Counterfeit Currency

Following a complaint, police responded to the Citgo gas station at 47 Church Hill Road, commonly known as Church Hill Gas Stop, at about 5:24 pm on July 13, to investigate a report of a counterfeit $20 bill having been passed at the gas station.

Following an investigation, police said they arrested Jeffrey Ruopp, 22, of Brookfield at his home and charged him with first-degree forgery and with sixth-degree larceny for allegedly having passed the fake money.

Police said that Ruopp apparently created the counterfeit money himself and is not believed to have used counterfeit currency at any other businesses.

Following arrest processing, police released Ruopp on $1,000 bail for a July 28 arraignment in Danbury Superior Court.

American Express

Police report that on July 20, a person found a lost American Express gift card in the area of Reed Intermediate School at 3 Trades Lane.

Police are holding the gift card for safekeeping. The owner should contact either Sergeant Darlene Froehlich or patrol Officer Richard Monckton at the police station at 3 Main Street, telephone 426-5841, to claim the item.

Botsford Crash

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the hazardous intersection of South Main Street and Swamp Road in Botsford at about 6:48 pm on July 23.

Motorist Ryan Soto, 25, of Danbury, who was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Aveo sedan, was stopped and waiting at a stop sign at the end of Swamp Road, as motorist Arthur Sikora, 57, of Southbury was driving a 2005 Ford F-750 bucket truck northward on South Main Street, police said.

The Chevrolet then started moving forward and the two vehicles collided, police said. There were no injuries. Botsford firefighters responded to the accident scene. Soto received an infraction for failure to grant the right of way, police said.

Eight Charges

A local man was charged with eight offenses early on the morning of July 24 following a domestic dispute that occurred at Meadowbrook Terrace Mobile Home Park at 55 Sugar Street, police said.

Police said they received a report of a domestic dispute about 12:02 am, after which they went to the trailer park to investigate.

Police said they initially charged resident Christopher Mahoney, 42, of 55 Sugar Street with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault, and third-degree criminal mischief as a result of the domestic dispute.

During arrest processing at the police station, Mahoney allegedly became uncooperative and combative, resulting in additional charges being filed against him, police said. Those charges are interfering with police, threatening, and three counts of assault on a peace officer, police said.

Police held Mahoney on $50,000 bail for a court arraignment later that day.

Church Hill Road

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the driveway entrance to Drug Center Pharmacy and Newtown Hardware, at 61 Church Hill Road, about 10 am July 20.

The collision involved motorist Michael Rotolo, 81, of Thornwood, N.Y., who was driving a 2008 Honda Pilot, and motorist William Murphy, 28, of Redding, who was driving a 2005 Audi A-4, police report.

There were no injuries. Police said they issued Rotolo a written warning for failure to grant the right of way and for failure to notify the state Department of Motor Vehicles of an address charge. Police gave Murphy a written warning for failure to renew a vehicle registration.

BMW Vs Subaru

Police said they learned on the afternoon of July 20 of a two-vehicle accident that had occurred at the intersection of Mile Hill Road and South Main Street.

The collision involved motorist Thomas Ansbro, 51, of 1 Harvest Common Road, who was driving a 2008 BMW X-5, and motorist Marilyn Montray-Morrissey, 69, of 32 Hanover Road, who was driving a 2002 Subaru Legacy station wagon, police said.

Police said they learned of the accident when it was reported to them after the incident had occurred. There were no injuries. Police took no enforcement.

Mt Pleasant Road

About 4 pm July 19, motorist Nicholas Gilewicz, 31, of Philadelphia, who was driving a 2008 Mitsubishi Galant, was traveling in the left climbing lane of westbound Mt Pleasant Road and then stopped in order to turn left onto Johnnie Cake Lane, police said.

Motorist Margaret Malone, 84, of 35 Taunton Lake Drive, who was driving a 2002 Mercury Sable in the right climbing lane of westbound Mt Pleasant Road, then struck the Mitsubishi, police said.

There were no injuries. Police said they gave Malone a written warning for failure to keep to the right.

Ford Vs Porsche

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Taunton Lane and Mt Pleasant Road on the morning of July 17.

The collision involved motorist Eric Lipusz, 36, of 11 Wildcat Road, who was driving a 1990 Ford F-350 pickup truck, and motorist Stephen Smith, Jr, 50, of 15 Great Hill Road, who was driving a 1998 Porsche sports car, police said.

Following the collision, the drivers exchanged pertinent information at the scene, police said. Later, Smith reported the accident to police.

There were no injuries. Police said the cause of the collision is unclear due to conflicting statements from the drivers and due to a lack of physical evidence at the scene.

Police said they issued Lipusz an infraction for driving without a license.

Box Truck

About 4 pm July 20, trucker Guy Cunningham, 44, of Northfield, who was driving a 2007 Mitsubishi FE-8 box truck, pulled into the parking lot at 15 Commerce Road, police said.

While attempting to park the truck, Cunningham collided with a parked, unoccupied 2005 Dodge Neon, police said.  There were no injuries. Police took no enforcement.

Schoolhouse Hill Road

Police report an accident on a hazardous section of Schoolhouse Hill Road, near its intersection with Evergreen Road, about 2 pm July 26.

Motorist Russell Cinicolo, 22, of Boynton Beach, Fla., was driving a 1999 Subaru Legacy station wagon eastward and was negotiating a curve in the road, when an unknown westbound vehicle, which was positioned partially in the eastbound lane, was approaching him, police said.

Cinicolo then steered the Subaru to the right to avoid a collision, but in doing so the Subaru’s right front tire struck some curbing, resulting in tire damage, police said. Cinicolo was not injured. Police took no enforcement. No description of the offending vehicle was available.

Evading Responsibility

A two-vehicle accident occurred on Church Hill Road at its intersection with the eastbound ramps of Exit 10 of Interstate 84 at about 9 pm July 23.

Motorist Ida Candida, 80, of 155 Jennifer Lane was driving a 2001 Honda Accord sedan eastward on Church Hill Road, as an either silver or gray SUV was traveling westward there, police said.

The SUV then made a turn to its left and collided with the Honda, after which the SUV drove onto eastbound I-84’s onramp, leaving the area, police said.

Candida was not injured. Police ask anyone with information on the identity of the offending motorist to contact Officer Matthew Hayes at the police station at 426-5841.

Hazardous Intersection

About 11:54 am on July 22, motorist Richard Coopersmith, 57, of 61 Taunton Hill Road, who was driving a 2007 Lexus ES-350 sedan, was attempting to make a left turn from eastbound Country Club Road onto northbound South Main Street, as motorist Mary Daly, 28, of 21 Mt Nebo Road was driving a 2008 Ford Escape SUV southward on South Main Street, according to police.

The two vehicles collided. There were no injuries. Police said they issued Coopersmith a written warning for failure to grant the right of way.

Glover/Queen

About 4 pm July 23, motorist Emma Canfield, 18, of Monroe, who was driving a 1995 Toyota Corolla sedan, stopped on Glover Avenue at its intersection with Queen Street, police report.

The Corolla was then struck from behind by motorist Thomas Manson, 36, of 8 Pootatuck Trail, who was diving a commercial 1998 Ford van, police said.

 There were no injuries. Police gave Manson a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Toyota Vs Ford

A two-vehicle collision occurred on Church Hill Road, at its intersection with the Exit 10 ramps for westbound Interstate 84 at about 1 pm on July 26.

Motorist Emily Heusted, 18, of Southbury was driving a 1995 Toyota Camry sedan eastward on Church Hill Road, as motorist Gloria Lewis, 68, of Higganum was driving a 2005 Ford Escape westward there, police said.

The Toyota then attempted to make a left turn to enter westbound I-84’s onramp, driving directly in front of the approaching Ford, resulting in a collision, police said.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported Heusted, Lewis, and Ruth Greenawalt, 68, of Southbury, who was a passenger in the Ford, to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries, according to police. Hook & Ladder firefighters went to the accident scene. Police issued Heusted an infraction for failure to grant the right of way.

Highway DUI

State police said they received several telephone calls reporting that a motorist had collided with guardrailing on eastbound Interstate 84, near Exit 9, and then fled the scene at about 4:18 pm July 21, so they went to that area to check on the reports.

State police said they found motorist Charles Brown, 54, of Oxford and stopped him to investigate the complaints against him.

State police arrested Brown on charges of driving under the influence, evading responsibility, failure to drive in the proper lane, illegal possession of drugs, and possession of prescription drugs outside their original container.

State police said they held Brown on $2,000 bail for a July 22 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Slippery Ramp

At about 9 am July 21, motorist Shirley Tartaro, 42, of Monroe was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer on the Exit 9 onramp for westbound Interstate 84, when the vehicle spun out of control on the wet pavement and then collided with an embankment, state police said. 

Tartaro was not injured. Enforcement information was not available.

SUV Crash

State police said that motorist Silvana Lopes, 34, of 46 Butterfield Road was driving a 2003 Jeep Liberty containing three passengers on westbound Interstate 84’s Exit 9 onramp at about 8:43 pm July 21, when the vehicle skidded on the wet road, went onto some turf, reentered the roadway, and then rolled over onto its right side.

There were no reported injuries, but as a precaution, ambulance volunteers transported an infant passenger to Danbury Hospital to checked, state police said. State police issued Lopes an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Trespassing

Police said they responded to a report that people were illegally inside a vacant building at the Washington Square section of Fairfield Hills on the evening of July 26.

After investigating, police issued infractions to two men on charges of simple trespassing. Charged were David M. Green, 20, of Norwalk, and William Hood, 20, of Ridgefield, police report. The infractions carry $92 fines. They are appealable in court.

 

Scooters Found

On July 25, two Razor-brand scooters with green handlebars were found near 43 Meadowbrook Road, police said. To claim the scooters, the owners should contact Officer John McCluskey or Sergeant Darlene Froehlich at the police station at 3 Main Street, telephone 426-5841.

 

Vehicle Fire

About 10:06 am on July 23, a police officer who was working on a private duty assignment for public utility repairs on Toddy Hill Road near Deerfield Drive noticed a Subaru Legacy traveling on Toddy Hill Road with smoke emanating from beneath the vehicle, police report.

The officer stopped the driver of the Subaru and then saw flames coming out from beneath the auto, police said.

The police officer and Connecticut Light & Power Company workers extinguished the fire, police said.

Sandy Hook and Botsford firefighters went to the scene. There were no injuries.

Intersection Collision

About 5 pm July 25, motorist Maryellen Johnson, 49, of 51 Jeremiah Road, who was driving a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E-320, was waiting at a red traffic signal at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Toddy Hill Road, police said.

Motorist Ryan Domingos, 21, of 15 Founders Lane, who was driving a 1996 Honda Accord, was waiting behind the Mercedes, police said.

When the signal turned green, the Honda struck the Mercedes from behind, police said. There were no injuries. Police gave Domingos a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart. Police also verbally warned Domingos for distracted driving.

Hay Trailer

Police report an accident between a pickup truck, which was hauling a trailer loaded with baled hay, and a sport-utility vehicle near 24 Brushy Hill Road about 10 am July 26.

Police said that Anthony Trozzi, 28, of Woodbury was driving a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup truck  that was hauling an unregistered hay trailer southward, as motorist Stephanie Maker, 42, of 24 Park Lane was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe northward.

The Ford moved to the right side of the road as the Chevrolet approached, police said. The Ford’s hay trailer then hit a utility pole positioned at the road’s curb, causing the vertical framework that enclosed the hay to partially detach from the trailer, police said. The framework then struck a nearby decorative lamppost and also struck the SUV, damaging it, police said.

The impacts caused some of the hay load to land on the ground. There were no injuries. The accident is under investigation, police said.

Two MV Charges

Police said they stopped motorist Drinor Mehmeti, 18, of Danbury near 38 Church Hill Road to investigate at about 5 :10 pm July 27.

Police said they charged Mehmeti with failure to display a front marker plate and also with driving with a suspended license. Police released Mehmeti on a written promise to appear in court on August 7.

Motor Vehicle Violations

Police report they stopped motorist Anthony Brown, 34, of Norwalk about 7:25 am July 28 near 111 South Main Street to investigate.

Police charged Brown with failure to display a marker plate, misuse of a marker plate, driving an unregistered vehicle, and driving while under suspension.

Brown was released on a  written promise to appear August 11 in Danbury Superior Court.

Assault Charge

Police report they responded to a call alerting them of a fight in progress at about 6:22 pm July 29 in the parking lot of Newtown Shopping Village at 6 Queen Street.

Police said that after investigating, they charged Ian V. Guilfoil, 19, of 4 Rockywood Drive with third-degree assault and with breach of peace. Guilfoil was the only person charged in the incident, police said.

After arrest processing, police released Guilfoil on $100 bail for an August 12 arraignment on the charges in Danbury Superior Court.

Vandalism

Sometime between 5 pm on July 28 and 9 am on July 29, someone vandalized a mailbox on Sherman Street, knocking it off its base and leaving it on the ground, police said. Police are investigating and ask anyone with information on the incident to contact Officer Steven Borges at the police station, 426-5841.

DUI Arrest

While on patrol about 3:20 am on July 30, police said they spotted motorist Alonzo Stewart, 52, of Bridgeport driving erratically northward on South Main Street. Police said Stewart then turned onto westbound Sugar Street, where they stopped him to investigate.

Police said they charged Stewart with driving under the influence and with failure to drive to the right.

Following case processing, police released Stewart on $100 bail for an August 13 court appearance.