Westport police detail threats in arrest of New York man

Vanderval Ferreira, 28, of Port Chester, New York, was arrested on Oct. 20 based on a Westport police warrant detailing a violent incident that ended with a car crash near Interstate 95.

The arrest document outlines a pattern of behavior that began after Ferreira ended a relationship with the victim, a woman he had known for years. Police records show he sent her nearly 75 text messages in the days leading up to the Oct. 15 incident. The messages included threats of violence and demands for help.

"I'm coming for straight blood," Ferreira wrote in one text, according to the warrant. He also claimed in a message that going to police would open a "can" that neither local officers nor federal agents could defend. On the day of the incident, Ferreira sent dozens of texts asking the victim to talk and help him. When she declined, a mutual contact reported fearing he would harm himself. The victim encouraged that contact to call authorities.

Approximately an hour later, the contact called the victim to say they had removed Ferreira from their home and that he had threatened to kill her. While on the phone, the victim received more messages from Ferreira. She eventually agreed to drive him to the hospital. The warrant notes she texted a friend to share her location as a precaution before getting into Ferreira's vehicle.

Ferreira began driving recklessly immediately after the victim entered the car. "He (Ferreira) drove like 60 mph down my gravel driveway," the victim told police. "I knew right away he wasn't going to the hospital." She warned him that people would call police after he ran red lights and failed to use brakes during turns. Following this comment, the victim said he "went crazy."

The victim attempted to open the car door to slow him down, but Ferreira pulled her closer and punched the side of her head while driving. The car crashed into a metal guardrail just before the entrance to Interstate 95. The victim escaped the vehicle and hid in a stairwell off Saugatuck Avenue until her friend arrived. She stated she believed Ferreira "was trying to kill me last night" and had planned to crash the car with her inside.

Emergency responders received a crash detection alert from Ferreira's phone that night but found no scene. Westport police later located the abandoned vehicle, which had serious front-end damage and no license plate. Ferreira is charged with first-degree kidnapping, criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, second-degree harassment, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

He is currently held on a $500,000 bond. Court records show he is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Dec. 15.