Rolled Forward Into Car

Newtown Police report Richard Paloian, 58, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2023 Ford 350Z, was traveling eastbound on Riverside Road at 11:09 am June 4. He was traveling behind a 2013 Toyota Camry operated by Ashley Grand, 31, of Oxford. Grand stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Riverside Road and Glen Road and Paloian stopped behind her. Paloian’s vehicle then rolled forward and struck the back of Grand’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Paloian was issued a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Hit And Run

Newtown Police report Edward Knauf, 43, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Jeep Wagoneer, parked in the parking lot of 21 Mile Hill Road South, from approximately 4 pm to 5:30 pm June 5. Upon returning to his vehicle, he discovered two scrape marks on the front right fender that were not originally there. There were no witnesses to the incident. Officers found no evidence of damage similar to Knauf’s vehicle in the lot.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that at 5:35 pm June 9, officers were dispatched to South Main Street in the area of Bears Hill Road for the report of erratic operation of a motor vehicle.

Upon searching the area, officers performed a motor vehicle stop and a roadside investigation was conducted. Gustavo Freitas-Cunha, 43, of Danbury, was arrested on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

He was released on a $1,500 bond with a court date of June 25 in Danbury Superior Court.

Mailbox Hit

Newtown Police report an unknown vehicle was traveling westbound on Meadow Brook Road at 8:24 pm June 10. The vehicle went off the road and struck a mailbox before leaving the scene.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Newtown Police and reference case #2400008611.

Failure To Obey Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Chiara Vaccaro, 22, of Roxbury, operating a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling westbound on Ethan Allen Road at the intersection of South Main Street at 2:23 pm June 11. Sierra Mather, 27, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Lexus NX, was traveling northbound on South Main Street in the area of Ethan Allen Road. Vaccaro entered into the northbound travel lane of South Main Street when it was unsafe to do so and the front of Mather’s vehicle struck the front left corner of Vaccaro’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Vaccaro was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Jayden Taylor, 16, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, was traveling west on Meadow Brook Road at 10:29 am June 12. Colleen Riley, 64, of Fairfield, operating a 2020 Lexus NX 300, was traveling south on Huntington Road. Taylor turned left onto Huntington Road and made contact with Riley’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Taylor was given a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

Two Lefts Make A Collision

Newtown Police report Timothy Sega, 66, of Shelton, operating a 2009 GMC Sierra, was standing in the left-most left turn lane at the intersection of Toddy Hill Road and Berkshire Road at 3:48 pm June 12. Adam Puleo, 40, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Blue Bird BBCV 2311 school bus, was standing in the right most left turn lane at the intersection of Toddy Hill Road and Berkshire Road. Both vehicles attempted to turn left onto Berkshire Road and Sega failed to maintain his lane, causing the right front end of his vehicle to strike the rear left end of Puleo’s vehicle

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Sega was issued an infraction for failure to maintain a lane.

Traded Mirrors

Newtown Police report Richard Lovello, 52, of New Milford, operating a 2021 Ram Promaster 1500, was traveling southbound on Hanover Road at 8:10 am June 13. Zoltan Varga, 52, of Fairfield, operating a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado K2500, was traveling northbound. The left side view mirrors of both trucks collided while rounding the bend near Papoose Hill Road.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Flip Flop Causes Fender Bender

Newtown Police report Dana Taylor, 52, of Newtown, operating a 2017 Subaru Forester, was backing out of a parking space on Elm Drive at 5:57 pm June 13. Arthur Wasley, 43, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Jeep Wrangler, was driving through the parking lot behind Taylor. Taylor said while backing out, her flip flop got stuck between the floorboard and the pedal, causing her to strike Wasley’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken since the incident occurred on private property.

Hit Car, Mailbox, Ditch

Newtown Police report Travis Pyka, 32, of West Haven, operating a 2023 Hyundai Sonata, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road near Chestnut Hill Road at 6:21 pm June 14. Xavier Dos Santos, 44, of Danbury, operating a 2015 Chrysler Town & Country, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road and Paugussett Road. Pyka told police he fell asleep while driving, which caused his vehicle to cross over the center line and go off road. Dos Santos saw Pyka’s vehicle cross over the center line, so he moved to the shoulder and attempted to stop to avoid the collision, but was unable to. After striking the front right corner of Dos Santos’s vehicle, Pyka’s vehicle continued off road, striking a mailbox before coming to a rest in a ditch in the woods.

No injuries were reported. Pyka’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

Pyka was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain a lane.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Demir Omer, 22, of Highland Park, N.J., operating a 2009 Toyota Corolla, was traveling on Pole Bridge Road at 12:02 pm June 15. Omer stopped at a stop sign behind a 2023 Ford Explorer operated by Lucinda Carlson, 55, of Sandy Hook. Carlson started forward from the stop sign but then stopped again, and Omer rear-ended Carlson’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Omer was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Vehicle Sought

Newtown Police report that a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee owned by Jennifer Browne of Newtown was parked, unoccupied, in a parking space at 228 South Main Street at roughly 6 pm June 15. An unidentified vehicle struck the front right portion of Browne’s vehicle. The vehicle then left the scene.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

An investigation is underway.

DUI Arrest

Newtown Police report Victor Mones, 41, of Bridgeport, was arrested at 11:50 pm June 15 on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive on the right. He was released on a $1,000 bond with a court date of July 2 in Danbury Superior Court.

Passing On Right

Newtown Police report Jacob Sliech, 25, of Brookfield, operating a 2023 Hyundai Ioniq, was traveling southbound on Main Street at 4:06 pm June 16. Carol Greaves, 82, of Newtown, operating a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling northbound on Main Street and turning left onto West Street. Sliech attempted to pass a non-involved vehicle on the right and struck Greaves’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Greaves’ vehicle was towed.

Sliech was issued an infraction for passing on the right.

Evading Charge

Newtown Police report Sandro Pizzicarola, 68, of Trumbull, was arrested at 5:34 pm June 16 on the charge of evading responsibility for injury or property damage. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of July 2.

Physical Altercation

Newtown Police report Makai Coleman, 18, of Newtown, was arrested at 10:07 pm June 16 on the charge of second-degree breach of peace following a reported physical altercation. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of July 2.

Item Found

Newtown Police report that at 10:44 am June 17, the Newtown Police Department was alerted to found property in Sandy Hook Center. A baby shopping cart cover in a self-contained bag was located. The owner can pick up the cover at the police department by identifying the item, case number 2400008939.

Honda Hits Acura

Newtown Police report Wellington De Souza, 34, of Bridgeport, operating a 2015 Honda CR-V, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 1:23 pm June 17. He was traveling behind a 2019 Acura RD-X operated by Polliana Barbosa, 36, of Bridgeport. The right front of De Souza’s vehicle struck the left rear of Barbosa’s.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

De Souza was issued an infraction for following too close.