Authorities said an officer heard “heard significant screaming taking place from the water” before arresting the man
A New York man was arrested this weekend for allegedly attempting to drown his two children on a Connecticut beach.
The West Haven Police Department said in a social media post on Saturday, June 22, that an officer spotted a Nissan SUV parked on a local beach and “heard significant screaming taking place from the water” around 2:31 a.m. local time.
Responding to the screams, the officer saw a man and two small children in the water. As the officer approached them, the man began to “drift further away with the children all while screaming at the responding officers to ‘stay back,’ ” the West Haven Police said.
The man, later identified as 41-year-old Romney Desronvil of Queens, was “deliberately drowning his children,” police stated.
“Officers immediately entered the water and were nearly 100 yards away from shore at this time. Other Officers on scene joined members of the West Shore Fire Department and entered the water utilizing the West Shore Fire boat,” the police department continued, adding that the first officer was able to “gain possession” of the kids and get them to shore with the help of others.
The children were then transported to a local hospital and “life-saving measures” were taken by police.
Citing a Saturday news conference, local outlet New Haven Register reported that Police Chief Joseph Perno said Desronvil is expected to be charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of risk of injury, with the incident remaining under investigation.
“It is without a doubt the swift response by our patrol officers saved the lives of these children,” the department said. “The communication and collaborative efforts made by the West Shore Fire Department and eventually the New Haven Police Department allowed for immediate medical aid and also the apprehension of Desronvil.”
In the news conference shared by CT Insider, West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer recognized “the brave work of our officers” for their response.
“These two children, they had guardian angels this morning, and the name of their guardian angels were officer Williamson and officer Miller,” she said, calling their efforts “truly remarkable.”
Per the New Haven Register, the mayor said the children appeared to be improving, as Chief Perno added both were under 3 years old. Perno also reportedly shared that their mother was in New York at the time of the alleged attempted drowning and arrived in New Haven by Saturday afternoon.
West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello added during the news conference that firefighters, EMTs and paramedics “went to work immediately” on the children upon arrival. He said it took 22 minutes from the time of the dispatch to the time the children received care at the hospital.
“I would like to personally commend our firefighters who transported both patients in our rescue truck,” Scafariello said. “They provided care to the highest level.”
