Head-On Collision

Newtown Police report Sharon Baisley, 60, of Bethel, operating a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 4:42 pm March 10. Annemarie McDermott, 47, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2016 BMW 328xi, was traveling eastbound on Mt Pleasant Road. Police say Baisley swerved to avoid striking an uninvolved vehicle waiting to turn left onto Taunton Lake Road and crossed over the center line, striking McDermott’s vehicle head-on.

Both Baisley and McDermott, as well as a passenger in McDermott’s vehicle, were evaluated on the scene by emergency medical personnel and transported to Danbury Hospital. Both vehicles were towed.

Baisley received an infraction for failure to drive upon right and failure to carry an operator’s license.

Larceny And Drug Charges

Newtown Police arrested Kaitlyn Cormier, 35, of Newtown, on an active arrest warrant on March 13, in connection with a shoplifting incident in October 2022 in which police say she took over $200 worth of Alaskan king crab from Big Y. While in custody, police say she was found to be in possession of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. Cormier was charged with sixth-degree larceny, possession of a controlled substance, and use of drug paraphernalia.

Cormier was released on a written promise to appear in Danbury Superior Court on March 22.

Hit Parked Car

Newtown Police report Judith Max, 76, of Monroe, operating a 2018 Subaru Forester, was in the parking lot next to the Newtown Senior Center at 2:10 pm March 13. While parking, the right front corner of her vehicle struck the left side of a parked, unoccupied 2019 Audi A4 owned by VW Credit Leasing, doing minor damage.

Max told police she left the scene prior to police arrival because she felt unsafe after being yelled at by the lessee of the Audi, and she didn’t feel her vehicle struck another vehicle since she was unable to locate any damage to her vehicle on the scene.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Improper Passing

Newtown Police report Jayden Samaniego, 18, of Danbury, operating a 2016 Mercedes-Benz MI350, was traveling southbound on Hattertown Road at 2:46 pm March 13. He was traveling behind a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Matthew Conte, 39, of Newtown. Police say Conte stopped and began backing into their driveway when Samaniego crossed the solid double yellow lines and into the northbound travel lane in an attempt to pass Conte on the left. The front right wheel well of Samaniego’s vehicle struck the rear left portion of the bumper of Conte’s vehicle. Samaniego’s vehicle continued forward, causing damage to the right side doors and rear right wheel well of Samaniego’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Samaniego was issued an infraction for improper passing.

Ran Into Ditch

Newtown Police report Avery Starr, 31, of Beacon, N.Y., operating a 2018 Mazda CX5, was traveling southbound on Poverty Hollow Road at 6:56 am March 14. Due to snow- and sleet-covered road conditions, Starr ran off the roadway right into a ditch off the southbound shoulder.

No injuries were reported. Starr’s vehicle suffered disabling damage and was towed from the scene.

Starr was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Struck Utility Pole

Newtown Police report Kevin Guertin, 39, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Acura TI, was traveling eastbound on Poverty Hollow Road at 7:21 am March 14. Guertin’s vehicle slid on the snow-covered roadway, ran off the road to the right and struck a utility pole.

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

No enforcement action was taken.

Mazda Hits Porsche

Newtown Police report Mora Rodriguez, 74, of Bridgeport, operating a 2008 Mazda 3, was in the parking lot of 100 Church Hill Road at 3:59 pm March 18. Richard Hallet, 58, of Milford, operating a 2021 Porsche Cayenne, was traveling northbound through the lot. Rodriguez was reversing in the parking lot from a space and struck Hallet’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Parking Lot Fender Bender

Newtown Police report Richard Schnee, 56, of Newtown, operating a 2017 Honda CR-V, was reversing from a parking spot in the parking area for 4 Primrose Street at 8:52 pm March 18. Alexandra Bradley, 64, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Mazda CX-5, was also backing from a parking space in the lot. The two vehicles collided, doing minor damage to both.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Evading Responsibility

Newtown Police arrested Julio Cordero, 24, of New Milford, at 5:12 am March 19 on the charges of evading responsibility for injury or property damage, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of April 4 in Danbury Superior Court.

Disobeying Officer’s Signal

Newtown Police arrested Erik Bauer, 28, of Putnam, at 8:04 pm March 19 on the charges of disobeying the signal of an officer, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and operating a motor vehicle without a license. He was released on a $1,000 bond with a court date of April 6.

Weapons Charge

Newtown Police arrested Ariel Cruz-Mejia, 22, of Waterbury, at 2:15 pm March 20 on the charge of illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. He was released on a $5,000 bond with a court date of April 5 in Danbury Superior Court.