Contradictory Reports On Pass

Newtown Police report Ashley Merced, 33, of East Hartford, operating a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan, was traveling south on Toddy Hill Road, between Marlin Road and Button Shop Road, behind a Town of Newtown Highway maintenance tractor, at 7:55 am July 11. Jonathan Pais, 24, of New Milford, operating a 2023 Honda CR-V, was south behind the same tractor. Police said both drivers gave conflicting accounts of what occurred. Pais said Merced made contact with his vehicle while passing him on the left. Merced said she passed the tractor and did not make contact with Pais’ vehicle. Minor damage was found on Pais’ vehicle and no damage was reported on Merced’s vehicle.

Pais complained of a minor injury but declined transport. Neither vehicle was towed.

Merced was issued an infraction for failure to drive right.

DUI And Evading Charges

Newtown Police report Layne Bartek, 18, of Naugatuck, operating a 2003 Nissan 350Z, was traveling southbound on Butterfield Road at a high rate of speed approaching an S curve at 9:28 pm July 12. Bartek began traversing the curve left and overcorrected, crossing into the oncoming lane. While trying to get back in the proper lane, Bartek lost control, spinning the vehicle back across the proper lane of travel, off the roadway right facing the wrong direction and then went down into a ditch. There the vehicle struck a stone wall and then a standing tree with the driver’s side door. Bartek was entrapped for a short time before exiting through the passenger side door.

Bartek fled the scene in another vehicle that was following, and was located by police in that vehicle in the area.

Bartek was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. The vehicle was towed.

Bartek was arrested on the charges of operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, making a restricted turn, traveling unreasonably fast, evading responsibility for damage or injury following a collision, operating without a license, improper use of marker plates, and operating an uninsured vehicle.

Car Vandal Sought

Newtown Police report that at approximately 5:30 am July 13, an unknown person or persons smashed the window on a vehicle in a driveway on Farrell Road.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841 and refer to case 24000011402.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Rita Rozhavskaya, 73, of Newtown, operating a 2022 BMW X1, was traveling northbound on Simpson Street approaching a stop sign at the intersection with Keating Farms Avenue at 12:11 pm July 14. Sarah Cohen, 37, of Stratford, operating a 2016 Honda Civic, was traveling eastbound on Keating Farms Avenue, approaching the stop sign at the intersection of Simpson Street. Rozhavskaya attempted a left turn onto Keating Farms Avenue and sideswiped Cohen’s vehicle as it was making a right turn onto Simpson Street.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Rozhavskaya was given a verbal warning for making an improper turn.

Backed Into Trailer

Newtown Police report Raymond Blye, 32, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2001 Chevrolet Impala, was backing out of a parking space at Misty Vale Deli at 8:56 am July 16. Blye backed into a Newtown Parks and Recreation-owned trailer that was parked behind it.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Slid On Slippery Road

Newtown Police report Michelle Beck, 33, of Southbury, operating a 2004 BMW 525i, was traveling southbound on Mile Hill Road at 5:38 pm July 17. Andrew Oliveira, 35, of Monroe, operating a 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie, was traveling northbound on Mile Hill Road. Beck lost control of her vehicle due to slippery road conditions and the right rear end of her vehicle struck the front left end of Oliveira’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Beck’s vehicle was towed due to traffic violations.

Beck was issued an infraction for misuse of a registration plate, failure to have state required minimum insurance, and failure to maintain lane.

Hit By Unsecured Load

Newtown Police report that at 8:19 am July 19, an unidentified work truck lost its unsecured load while traveling westbound on Sugar Street. The unsecured load struck a white colored BMW traveling in the opposite direction, causing significant damage.

Police are asking that anyone who witnessed the incident or who has more information to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841 and refer to case 2400010750.

Rear-Ended On High Bridge

Newtown Police report Jordan Beckett, 21, of Monroe, operating a 2016 Ford Escape, was stopped on High Bridge Road at the intersection of Botsford Hill Road at 2:24 pm July 19. He was stopped behind a 2020 Toyota 4Runner operated by Timothy Larkin, 57, of Monroe. Beckett rear-ended Larkin’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Beckett was issued an infraction for following too close.

Jaguar Hits Lincoln

Newtown Police report Donald Evans, 89, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Jaguar XJL, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 3:06 pm July 19. Arjan Chugani, 48, of Piscataway, N.J., operating a 2018 Lincoln MKT, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road. Evans attempted to make a left turn onto Lone Oak Meadows and collided with Chugani’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Evans’ vehicle was towed.

Evans was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Alvarez Otavalo, 24, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 11:07 am July 20. Michele Janofsky, 64, of Southbury, operating a 2023 Mazda CX-30, was stopped for traffic westbound on Church Hill Road at a driveway. Otavalo’s vehicle rear-ended Janofsky’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Otavalo was issued an infraction for following too close and operating without a license.

Restricted Turn

Newtown Police report Sherrie Hauser, 68, of Ocean View, Del., operating a 2019 Kia Sorrento, was exiting the exit 9 off-ramp at the intersection of Hawleyville Road at 6:21 pm July 20. Christopher Dorff, 46, of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., was traveling westbound on Hawleyville Road. The vehicles collided in the intersection.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Hauser was issued a verbal warning for failure to obey a stop sign, and making a restricted turn.

Rear-Ended On South Main

Newtown Police report Daniel Raposo, 40, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2013 BMW Mini Cooper, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 4:59 pm July 22. Cynthia Carroll, 61, of Cranston, R.I., operating a 2018 Ford Ecosport, was stopped northbound near the intersection of Park Lane. Raposo’s vehicle struck the rear end of Carroll’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

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

Van Backs Into Truck

Newtown Police report Steen Sahaunay, 20, of White Plains, N.Y., operating a 2020 Ford Van, was backing in a driveway on Pastors Walk at 11:36 am July 23. Sahaunay’s vehicle backed into an unoccupied 2004 Ford F350 owned by Kevin Albohn of Newtown.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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