Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Liliana Meleshkewich, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2016 Ford Fusion, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 3:12 pm March 5. She was traveling behind a 2017 Toyota Corolla operated by Samantha Ferris of Brookfield. Police say Ferris stopped waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so she could turn onto Pole Bridge Road. The front of Meleshkewich’s vehicle struck the rear of Ferris’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Meleshkewich was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Fender-Bender At NHS

Newtown Police report Daniel Michael, 16, of Newtown, operating a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling in the parking lot of Newtown High School at 2:58 pm March 6. He was traveling behind a 2009 Audi A4 operated by Ryan Kessler, 18, of Newtown. When traffic stopped, the front driver’s side bumper of Michael’s vehicle struck the rear bumper of Kessler’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Three-Vehicle Collision

Newtown Police report Dominic Socci, 73, of Newtown, operating a 2016 Honda CR-V, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 3:09 pm March 6. He was traveling behind a 2022 Jeep Wrangler operated by Jessica Fiorini, 47, of Newtown. Police say when Arthur Hechler, 84, of Newtown, operating a 2022 BMW X1 Xdrive came to a stop in the northbound travel lane of South Main Street, Fiorini came to a stop behind him but Socci was unable to stop in time, and the front of his vehicle collided with Fiorini’s. Fiorini’s vehicle was pushed forward into the back of Hechler’s vehicle.

Socci’s vehicle was towed. Hechler reported minor back pain but refused medical treatment.

Socci was issued a written warning for following too closely.

Failure To Appear Charge

Newtown Police report Krystal Loomis, 38, of Newtown, was arrested by warrant at 9:03 am March 7 on the charge of first-degree failure to appear. She was held on a $10,000 bond for a court date later that day.

Van Hits Pickup

Newtown Police report James Connolly, 54, of Bridgeport, operating a 2000 Ford Econoline E350, was backing in the parking lot of 14 Prospect Drive. A 2015 Chevrolet Silverado owned by JHS Restoration was parked in the lot. The rear of Connolly’s vehicle made contact with the driver’s side of the Silverado.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Stolen Vehicle

Newtown Police are seeking information following an incident at 6:30 am March 9, in which an operator left their still running white Kia Optima EX at the gas pumps at the Wheels Citgo at 67 Church Hill Road and it was subsequently stolen. Police ask that anyone who may have seen a suspicious person or vehicle in the area at that time should contact Officer Steve Borges at the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

Tractor Trailer Hits Bridge

Newtown Police report Darlin Garciaarias, 27, of Elmont, N.Y., operating a 2018 Freightliner 999, was traveling westbound on Botsford Hill Road approaching Swamp Road at 9:59 am March 9. The roof of Garciaarias’s vehicle struck an overhead bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Garciaarias was issued an infraction for failure to obey height requirements.

Tractor Trailer Versus Mini

Newtown Police report Kevin Buzzetto, 43, of Bridgeport, operating a 2022 Freightliner M2 106 Medium Duty tractor trailer, was traveling south on Hawleyville Road at 11:30 am March 10. He was traveling behind a 2013 Mini Cooper operated by Donna Miklaszewski, 78, of Sandy Hook. Police say Miklaszewski stopped to turn left onto the westbound Interstate 84 entrance ramp, and Buzzetto’s vehicle struck her vehicle from behind.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Buzzetto was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Post Office Truck Hits Car

Newtown Police report David Magalhaes, 45, of Oxford, operating a 1994 post office delivery truck, was parked on the east shoulder of Main Street at 1:01 pm March 10. Laercio Goncalves-Desouza, 64, of Danbury, operating a 2008 GMC Canyon, was traveling northbound on Main Street. Police say Magalhaes attempted to re-enter the traffic lane and the vehicles made contact.

No injuries were reported. Goncalves-Desouza’s vehicle was towed.

Magalhaes was given a verbal warning for unsafe movement of a stopped, standing, or parked vehicle.

Warrant Served

Newtown Police report Timothy Conway, 71, of Newtown, turned himself in at 4:06 pm March 10 on a warrant. He was charged with first-degree failure to appear and released on a $10,000 bond. He was given a court date of March 13 in Danbury Superior Court.

Drove Into Embankment

Newtown Police report Jasper Kelsey, 18, of Bethel, operating a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse, was traveling eastbound on Old Bethel Road and negotiating a left-hand turn at 12:30 pm March 11. Police say Kelsey’s vehicle swerved on the roadway due to icy conditions, and went down an embankment.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Kelsey was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Multiple Charges

Newtown Police report Victor Lehtinen, 42, of Newtown, was arrested at 5:25 pm March 12 on the charges of use of a vehicle without permission, criminal trover, and three counts of second-degree failure to appear. He was held on bonds totaling $19,000 with a court date of March 13.

Larceny And Possession

Newtown Police report Kaitlyn Cormier, 35, of Newtown, was arrested at 12:30 pm March 13 and charged with use of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance (first offense), and sixth-degree larceny. She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of March 22 in Danbury Superior Court.