Police Reports | June 19-July 15, 2024
Two Charges
Newtown Police report Rocco Panaro, 39, of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., operating a 2011 Ford Econoline, was traveling on Main Street at 6:03 pm June 19. Pedro Naula, 55, of Danbury, operating a 2014 Toyota Tundra, was traveling on Main Street in the opposite direction. Panaro crossed the center line and struck Naula’s vehicle, pushing the Toyota over the grass of 19 Main Street. The Toyota then struck a parked vehicle, a 2024 Audi Q3 owned by Samuel Bacco of Southbury.
Naula and a passenger were transported to Danbury Hospital. All three vehicles were towed.
Ranaro was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license and failure to drive in the proper lane.
Too Fast For Conditions
Newtown Police report Matthew Carravone, 22, of Putnam Valley, N.Y., operating a 2018 Subaru Forester, was traveling northbound on Washington Avenue at 3:07 am June 30. Carravone lost control and spun on the wet road service and struck a rock wall.
No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.
Carravone was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.
Evading Vehicle Sought
Newtown Police report that Abby Pinckney, 20, of Oxford, operating a 2019 Honda HR-V, was traveling eastbound on Wasserman Way at 10:25 pm June 30. Pinckney told police she observed a vehicle traveling westbound on Wasserman Way at a high rate of speed on the wet roadway. She said the vehicle spun out of control, entered her lane of travel, and struck her vehicle. Pinckney’s vehicle was forced off the roadway onto the grass shoulder. The other vehicle then fled the scene.
Physical evidence was located at the scene which confirms that the unidentified vehicle is a newer model black colored BMW 3 or 4 series sedan.
No injuries were reported. Pinckney’s vehicle was towed.
Anyone who may have information about, or may have witnessed the incident, is asked to contact Officer John Facto at 203-426-5841 or John.Facto@newtown-ct.gov. If found, the evading operator will be charged with reckless driving, evading responsibility for property damage or injury, and failure to maintain proper lane.
Failure To Maintain Lane
Newtown Police report Shawn McIntyre, 53, of Stratford, operating a 2018 Lexus RX, was traveling eastbound on Botsford Hill Road at 12:18 am July 1. While negotiating a left hand curve, McIntyre’s vehicle ran off the roadway right and struck an embankment.
No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.
McIntyre was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.
Silverado vs Signs & Mailbox
Newtown Police report Kyle Jackson, 34, of Danbury, was operating a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on South Main Street around 7:30 am July 3. Jackson was unable to maintain the lane near 220 South Main, and the Silverado struck two state roadway signs and one mailbox on the southbound side of the road.
No injuries were reported and the vehicle was towed due to disabling damage.
No enforcement is mentioned in the report.
Struck Embankment
Newtown Police report Jenine Ingersoll, 45, of Seymour, was operating a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado C1500 southbound on Botsford Hill Road around 3:30 am July 6.
Ingersoll was unable to negotiate the curve in the road near Swamp Road and the Silverado crossed over the center line and struck the embankment on the northbound shoulder. The vehicle continued off-road and up the embankment before coming to rest against bushes and a utility pole.
Ingersoll sustained minor injuries. The Silverado was towed due to damage and Ingersoll was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain lane.
Written Warning
Newtown Police report Andrew Scott, 28, of Monroe, operating a 2011 Buick Lucerne, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 3:23 pm July 6. Elijah Grant-Pereira of Stratford was traveling northbound on South Main Street ahead of Scott. Grant-Pereira slowed in traffic and Scott said he stepped on the gas instead of the brake and rear-ended Grant-Pereira’s vehicle.
No injuries were reported. Scott’s vehicle was towed.
Scott was issued a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.
Collision In Caraluzzi’s Lot
Newtown Police are investigating a motor vehicle collision where a vehicle struck a parked vehicle in Caraluzzi’s parking lot between 6:15 and 9 pm July 7.
Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the fleeing vehicle, which is white in color. The struck vehicle is blue in color. The evading vehicle may have damage to the back end or front left or front right quarter panels.
Anyone with information that could help identify the vehicle is asked to contact Officer Figol of the Newtown Police Department at Felicia.Figol@newtown-ct.gov.
Restricted Turn
Newtown Police report Amanda Stowe, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Nissan Rogue, was traveling westbound on Poverty Hollow Road at 7:30 am July 8. Stowe ran off the roadway to the right, striking a Frontier utility pole.
No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.
Stowe was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.
Car Vs Pole
Newtown Police report a 2012 Nissan Versa being operated by Keegan R. Mulready, 34, of Torrington, was traveling westbound on Little Brook Lane around 2:40 pm July 8. While negotiating a curve in the roadway near 10 Little Brook, Mulready drove off the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole causing disabling damage to the Nissan and damaging the utility pole.
A passenger in the vehicle, Britney Williams, 33, of Torrington, was not wearing a seatbelt. Williams was injured during the crash.
Botsford Fire Rescue and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps also responded to the crash.
Williams was checked for injuries but was not transported to the hospital.
Mulready told police he did not know what happened at the time of the crash. He was issued an infraction for restricted turns. Williams was issued an infraction for failure to wear a seat belt in the front seat.
A photo of this crash appeared in print and online last week.
Verbal Warning
Newtown Police report Patricia Tomchik, 80, of Monroe, operating a 2020 Subaru Forester, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 2:55 pm July 9. Camille Allen, 41, of Stamford, operating a 2024 BMW X3, was traveling behind Tomchik. Tomchik stopped at a stop light and Allen stopped behind. Tomchik told police she had issues with the vehicle’s transmission and put the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to move it back into drive. While in reverse, Tomchik’s vehicle moved backwards slowly, striking Allen’s vehicle rear to front.
No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.
Tomchik was issued a verbal warning for improper backing.
Failure To Grant Right Of Way
Newtown Police report Das Neves Brito, 44, of Bridgeport, operating a 2022 Toyota Camry, was traveling northbound on Walnut Tree Hill Road approaching School House Hill Road at 9:10 am July 10. RS Coronel-Villavcnc, 40, of Brewster, N.Y., was traveling southbound on Walnut Tree Hill Road.
Brito attempted to turn left onto School House Hill Road in front of Coronel-Villavcnc, and the left front corner of Brito’s vehicle struck the right side of Coronel-Villavcnc’s vehicle.
No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.
Brito was issued a written warning for failure to grant right of way while making a left turn.
Rear-Ender
Newtown Police report Mariana Correa, 42, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350, was traveling south on Toddy Hill Road at 10:09 am July 10. Jermoe Kozera, 70, of Hudson, Fla., operating a 2024 Subaru Forester, was traveling southbound on Toddy Hill Road ahead of Correa. Kozera slowed due to a turning vehicle ahead, and Correa did not stop in time, rear-ending Kozera.
No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.
Correa was issued a written warning for following too close.
Grand Prix Vs Express
Newtown Police report William Morton, 65, of Monroe, operating a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, was traveling south on South Main Street at 11:45 am July 10. He was traveling behind a 2016 Chevrolet Express operated by Jacob Russell, 26, of Fairfield. Russell slowed for a vehicle ahead turning left, and Morton rear-ended his vehicle.
No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.
Morton received a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.
Parked Vehicle Hit
Newtown Police are investigating a motor vehicle collision where a vehicle struck a parked vehicle in the Dunkin’ Donuts parking lot at 6 Queen Street at approximately 1 pm July 10. An unknown black vehicle struck a parked vehicle, causing damage to its back end. The evading vehicle may have white paint transfer on its front end.
If the public has any information regarding this incident, they are asked to contact Officer Figol of the Newtown Police Department at Felicia.Figol@newtown-ct.gov.
Failure To Drive In Proper Lane
Newtown Police report Tara Burgess, 73, of Bethel, operating a 2020 Honda CR-V, was traveling southbound on Huntingtown Road at 3:09 pm July 10. Burgess’ vehicle left the roadway right and hit a crosswalk sign and guide wire.
Burgess was evaluated by EMS and declined medical attention. The vehicle was towed.
Burgess was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane.
Struck From Behind
Newtown Police report Freitas De, 22, of Southbury, operating a 2023 Kia Forte, was stopped in the southbound left turn only lane on South Main Street at a red traffic light at 6:21 pm July 11. De’s vehicle was struck from behind by an unknown vehicle that De described as an older model brown car operated by young Hispanic male. After the collision, the brown vehicle moved into the right southbound travel lane and fled the scene.
No injuries were reported. De’s vehicle was not towed.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have additional information regarding it is asked to contact Officer John Facto at 203-426-5841. If identified, the evading operator will be charged with evading responsibility for causing property damage, and following too close.
Wires Down, Pole Broken
Newtown Police report Elmer Vazquez, 51, of Brisol, operating a 2024 KW Construction T68, was diverted with other westbound vehicles on Mt Pleasant Road onto Blackman Road due to tree cutting at 11:34 am July 12. Vazquez traveled onto Blackman Road and was traveling westbound when the top of his vehicle’s box trailer made contact with utility wires going across the roadway. All the wires were pulled down, the utility pole was broken, and service wires to a nearby residence were torn from the house.
No injuries were reported. The vehicle was undamaged.
No enforcement action was taken.
Doors Collide
Newtown Police report Marissa J. Campbell, 36, of Danbury, opened the driver’s door of a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Latitude as a 2020 Honda CR-V EXL being operated by Amy B. Ross, 53, of Monroe, was pulling into a parking spot at Caraluzzi’s Newtown Market, 6 Queen Street, around 6:15 pm July 15.
The driver’s door of the Cherokee hit the passenger door of the CR-V.
No injuries were reported.
No enforcement action was taken as the incident occurred on private property.