Actor Rip Torn arrested in Lakeville

SALISBURY — Actor Elmore “Rip� Torn was arraigned in Bantam Superior Court Monday after a bizarre incident in Salisbury Friday night, Jan. 29.

The incident will lead the Lakeville resident, who has been arrested three times since 2004 for drunk driving, to seek help. His attorney announced in court on Monday, Feb. 1, that Torn will go for alcohol rehabilitation as soon as this week. It is believed that he was intoxicated during the incident at the bank.

At 9:40 p.m. Jan. 29, Troop B in North Canaan was notified of an alarm at the Litchfield Bancorp branch at 326 Main St., which is not far from the home Torn and his family have owned in town for many years.

 The bank branch is on the first floor of a Victorian-style former home that has been converted to a business.

When a state trooper arrived on the scene, he found a window at the rear of the bank building broken. Inside, Torn, was walking around, carrying a loaded handgun. Police said he was obviously intoxicated.

The Texas-born actor, who turns 79 on Saturday, allegedly told the trooper he was going to jail.

His attorney, Thomas Waterfall, indicated in court that Torn believed he was in his own home, and that the trooper was an intruder.

Torn was arrested and taken to Troop B for processing. Bond was set at $100,000, but Torn refused to post it, electing instead to spend the weekend in the holding cell there. That would assure him an arraignment on the first available court date.

Torn appeared in court late Monday morning. He did not enter a plea on charges of first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, first-degree trespassing, carrying a firearm while intoxicated and possession of a firearm without a permit.

He is due back in court Feb. 17.

Torn was arrested twice previously in New York state for driving while intoxicated. He was acquitted on the first offense, and received a reduced sentence on the second one, given a fine and a 90-day license suspension.

In December 2008, Torn was stopped by Connecticut State Police across the street from the Litchfield Bancorp branch. He had been driving home from The White Hart Inn in the center of Salisbury. His Christmas tree was tied to the top of the Subaru and he was driving very slowly along the road shoulder. He failed field sobriety tests.

Following that incident, he received probation and was ordered by the court to attend a brief alcohol education program.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less