Winsted AMBER Alert called off

BANTAM — An AMBER Alert issued Sunday night was called off early Monday morning, June 21, after a Winsted man accused of abducting his 1-month-old son was arrested in Torrington.

Darrin O’Brien, 30, of 58 Main St., Winsted, surrendered to Torrington police after allegedly taking his 1-month-old son, Darren, from the child’s mother, Dana Lindsay, the previous night. The son was taken to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, where it was determined he was unharmed, and was returned to his mother.

O’Brien was charged with risk of injury to a minor, interfering with an officer and breach of peace. Arraigned at Bantam Superior Court later in the day, he posted a $75,000 bond and was ordered to stay away from Lindsay.

Winchester police reported Sunday night that the child, Darren O’Brien Jr., had been taken from Lindsay’s home by O’Brien at 8:56 p.m. and that O’Brien had fled on foot. Lindsay reportedly told police O’Brien left saying, “If we’re not going to be together, we’re not going to have the baby.�

Police reported making contact with O’Brien at some point between Sunday night and Monday morning and that O’Brien said he would return the child, but he did not. He reportedly told police the following day that he had driven back to the residence and was frightened by the presence of police cruisers and turned back.

O’Brien and Lindsay have a history of domestic disturbances and other offenses. O’Brien had been arrested as recently as June 15 for breach of peace at 58 Main St. He had also been arrested previously for possession of marijuana, reckless driving and evading responsibility. In December of 2004,  he was convicted on charges of unlawful restraint and violation of a protective order. He served two years of a six-year sentence.

Lindsay was convicted last September of making false statements to police alleging domestic violence by O’Brien. She was sentenced to three months in jail, and charges against O’Brien were dropped. Lindsay was also arrested as recently as June 18 for disorderly conduct stemming from a previous incident.

Prior to Monday’s court order, there were no court orders prohibiting O’Brien from having contact with Lindsay or their son.

In court Monday, Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia Palermo, asking for an increased bail amount, argued that O’Brien is “known to be violent and volatile in his nature� and that he is a “risk to society.�

Public defender James Longwell said O’Brien was trying to remove the baby from “a violent environment� and that he is not a flight risk.