Hit Car, Didn’t Know

Newtown Police report Brian Baker, 57, of Woodbury, operating a 1988 Ford Econoline, was attempting to pull into a marked parking space in the lot at 228 South Main Street. A 2019 GMC Yukon owned by Thomas Kase of Newtown was parked in an adjacent space. Baker struck Kase’s vehicle. Baker told police he felt the tires of his vehicle hit the curb, then he backed from the space and parked nearby. He told police he did not realize he had struck Kase’s vehicle. Surveillance cameras recorded the incident. No probable cause was found to cause police to believe that Baker had intentionally evaded responsibility.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Hit Vehicle Leaving Gas Station

Newtown Police report Peter Sym, 76, of Stratford, operating a 2008 Dodge Nitro, was waiting to enter South Main Street to head southbound from Wheels Citgo at 1:14 pm July 12. Emily Litke, 20, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2015 Subaru Crosstrek, was traveling northbound on South Main Street. Sym did not yield right of way and struck the front driver’s side of Litke’s vehicle with the front driver’s side of his own vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Sym was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.

Evading Vehicle Sought

Newtown Police report Andre Culler, 41, of Queens Village, N.Y., operating a 2023 Dodge Ram Amazon Delivery Truck, was parked legally on the shoulder of Sugar Street, facing eastbound, at 7:05 pm July 24. A blue Chevrolet Silverado with unknown plates traveling eastbound on Sugar Street sideswiped Culler’s vehicle and then fled the scene of the incident.

No injuries were reported. Culler’s vehicle was not towed.

Newtown Police asks that anyone with information regarding the incident contact Officer John Facto at 203-426-5841. If located, the operator of the Silverado will be charged with evading responsibility for causing property damage and failure to maintain the proper lane.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Lorenzo Espinal, 21, of West Haven, operating a 2022 VW Atlas, was traveling northeast on Key Rock Road at 9:23 am July 26. Joseph Devellis, 63, of Newtown, operating a 2012 Subaru Outback, was stopped at a stop sign on Key Rock Road at the intersection of Sugar Street. Espinal rear-ended Devellis’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Espinal’s vehicle was towed.

Espinal was issued an infraction for following too close.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Craig Balogh, 23, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Ram 1500, was traveling eastbound on Bradley Lane and came to a stop at the stop sign at the intersection with Berkshire Road at 7:07 am July 26. Jason Caston, 46, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Honda Civic, was traveling northbound on Berkshire Road and made a left turn onto Bradley Lane. Balogh attempted to make a left turn onto Berkshire Road and did not grant right of way to Caston, and the front passenger side of Balogh’s vehicle struck the rear driver’s side of Caston’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Balogh was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

Motorcycle Went Down Embankment

Newtown Police report Robert Paterson, 40, of West Haven, operating a 2008 Harley-Davidson XI1200c, was stopped at a stop sign facing eastbound on New Lebbon Road at 11:01 pm July 26. Paterson began to turn left onto High Rock Road when the vehicle left the roadway right and continued down an embankment before coming to a rest.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Paterson was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain a lane.

Parking Lot Fender Bender

Newtown Police report Kara Gerace, 53, of Newtown, operating a 2021 Honda HR-V, was parked in a parking space at 6 Queen Street at 4:35 pm July 27. Michael Barbour, 35, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling eastbound through the parking lot. Gerace backed out of the parking spot and the front right bumper of Barbour’s vehicle struck the rear passenger side of Gerace’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Distracted Driving Charge

Newtown Police report Joseph Montanaro, 27, of Terryville, operating a 2003 Dodge Ram, was traveling eastbound on Butterfield Road at 5:48 pm July 27. Montanaro reached for a cigarette and his vehicle travelled off the roadway, striking a telephone pole.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Montanaro was issued a misdemeanor summons for operating a motor vehicle while under suspension, distracted driving, failure to drive in the proper lane, and failure to wear a seat belt.

He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of August 8 in Danbury Superior Court.

Assault And Threatening Charges

Newtown Police report Victor Souther, 36, of Newtown, turned himself in to Newtown Police on an outstanding warrant on July 29.

Souther was charged with third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, and disorderly conduct.

Souther was released on a promise to appear and given a court date of July 30 in Danbury Superior Court.

Unlicensed And Uninsured

Newtown Police arrested Cesar Gregario, 28, of Newtown, at 9:48 pm July 30, on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of August 16 in Danbury Superior Court.