Norwalk officer honored after arrest of suspected first‑degree kidnapping suspect

Chief Walsh announced at the Sept. 15 meeting that Officer James Yang was selected as the Norwalk Police Department’s officer of the month for August 2025 for his role in the arrest of a suspected domestic‑violence kidnapping suspect.

According to the chief’s account, on Aug. 30 at approximately 2:20 a.m. Officer Yang responded to a disturbance at the Hilton Garden Inn. The situation initially appeared to be a minor domestic‑violence incident and the involved parties were issued summonses; the male party left. Shortly thereafter dispatch received a 911 call reporting that the male had returned to the hotel, violently assaulted the female and forced her into his vehicle.

Chief Walsh said Officer Yang located the suspect vehicle on Broad Street, conducted a traffic stop and took the male suspect into custody. The suspect was later charged with first‑degree kidnapping in addition to assault. The chief credited Yang’s attentiveness and quick response with preventing further harm to the victim.

Mayor Rilling and multiple commissioners praised Officer Yang at the meeting as an example of effective police work and quick thinking in a potentially dangerous domestic‑violence incident. No additional disciplinary or investigative action relating to this arrest was reported to the commission at the meeting.

Why this matters: The department said the arrest halted an ongoing violent incident; the charges reported by the department are first‑degree kidnapping and assault, which are felony offenses under Connecticut law. The recognition underscores the department’s public‑safety priorities and use of officer awards to highlight specific incidents.

The commission’s recognition was ceremonial; it does not create new departmental policy.