New York Man Arrested for Attempted Drowning of His Two Children on Connecticut Beach

A crane lifts an SUV belonging to a New York man who police say tried to drown two children he knew early Saturday morning. The SUV was removed Saturday afternoon after it was left on the beach at the end of Prospect Avenue in West Haven.

A New York man has been arrested for allegedly attempting to drown his two children on a Connecticut beach early Saturday morning.

According to the West Haven Police Department, an officer patrolling the area on June 22 around 2:31 a.m. noticed a Nissan SUV parked on a local beach and heard "significant screaming" from the water. The officer saw a man, later identified as 41-year-old Romney Desronvil of Queens, and two small children in the water.

. Officials said police and other rescue personnel responded to a man attempting to drown two children in the water near where the vehicle was parked. Two children are currently in the ICU at Yale New Haven Hospital, and the man was taken into custody, officials said.

As the officer approached, Desronvil began to "drift further away with the children," shouting at the officers to "stay back." Police stated that Desronvil was "deliberately drowning his children."

Officers immediately entered the water, nearly 100 yards from shore. Additional officers and members of the West Shore Fire Department joined the rescue effort using the West Shore Fire boat. The first officer was able to "gain possession" of the children and bring them to shore with help from others.

A Nissan SUV sits on the beach near Dawson Avenue in West Haven Saturday. Police say a New York man tried to drown two young children early Saturday.

The children were transported to a local hospital where they received life-saving measures. At a Saturday news conference, Police Chief Joseph Perno said Desronvil is expected to be charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of risk of injury. The incident is still 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 the New Haven Police Department allowed for immediate medical aid and the apprehension of Desronvil."

Tire tracks can be seen from where a vehicle that was on Prospect Beach got stuck off Prospect Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Saturday June 22, 2024.

West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer praised the officers' response. "These two children had guardian angels this morning, and their names were Officer Williamson and Officer Miller," she said, calling their efforts "truly remarkable." Chief Perno added that the children, both under 3 years old, appeared to be improving. Their mother, who was in New York at the time of the incident, arrived in New Haven by Saturday afternoon.

West Shore Fire Chief Stephen Scafariello commended the firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics for their immediate response. He noted it took 22 minutes from dispatch to the children receiving 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."

A news conference is held across from the West Shore Fire Station on Old Ocean Avenue in West Haven, Conn., on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Officials said police and other rescue personnel responded to a man attempting to drown two children at a West Haven beach. Two children are currently in the ICU at Yale New Haven Hospital, and the man was taken into custody, officials said.