Bridgeport Officer Cooper Whiteside Killed in DUI Crash, ICE Detainer Filed

On July 13, 2026, a head‑on collision on Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury, Connecticut killed off‑duty Bridgeport police officer Cooper Whiteside, 38, and his girlfriend Brittany Islami, 34. The crash involved a Jeep Compass driven by 27‑year‑old Melissa Esperanza Ramirez‑Romero of Stamford, who was found to have a blood‑alcohol level of .14% and tested positive for cannabis. Ramirez‑Romero was arrested and charged with two counts of second‑degree manslaughter, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving, and related offenses. Federal immigration authorities placed an ICE detainer on her, and the Department of Homeland Security urged Connecticut officials not to release her from custody, despite the state’s sanctuary policies. The incident has intensified debate over immigration enforcement and public safety in the state.