Vandalism Spree

Police report that between 12:30 and 1 am on August 4, someone using a BB-type firearm damaged three vehicles parked near Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook, and also damaged five streetlamps on Walnut Tree Hill Road, Schoolhouse Hill Road, and Hanover Road.

The crime constitutes first-degree criminal mischief, which is a felony. Police ask anyone with information on the identity of the vandal or vandals to contact them at 426-5841.

Toddy Hill Theft

Sometime between July 17 and July 30, someone stole four white wheel covers from a recreational vehicle that was parked at a property on Toddy Hill Road, near its southern intersection with Clearview Drive, police said.

Police are investigating the theft. People with knowledge of who stole the wheel covers are asked to contact police at the police station at 3 Main Street.

Jeremiah Collision

About 3:45 pm on August 6, motorist John Thibdeau, 63, of 56 Jeremiah Road, who was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Uplander minivan, was backing out of the driveway at his residence, as motorist John Neuboff, 52, of Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., was driving a 2008 Honda Pilot SUV eastward on Jeremiah Road, police said.

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

Toddy Hill Crash

Police said that at about 11:20 am on August 8, motorist Stephen Szalay, 41, of Monroe, who was driving a 1995 Ford F-350 pickup truck, was backing onto Toddy Hill Road from a commercial driveway at 4 Toddy Hill Road, as motorist Kathleen Maki, 40, of 3 Turkey Roost Road was driving a 2004 Chevrolet K-25 southward on Toddy Hill Road.

The two vehicles collided. There were no injuries. Police issued Szalay a written warning for unsafe backing.

Intersection Accident

Motorist David Wheat, 28, of 2 Eden Hill Road, who was driving a 2008 Infiniti G-35 sedan eastward on Sugar Street about 8 pm August 6, stopped at a red traffic signal at its intersection with Main Street, Glover Avenue, and South Main Street, police said.

When the traffic signal changed to green, the Infiniti was struck from behind by motorist Ralph Sergiovanni, 16, of 45 Brushy Hill Road, who was driving a 1998 Ford Expedition SUV, police said.

There were no injuries. Sergiovanni received a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart and for failure to renew a vehicle registration, police report.

Truck Hits Pole

Motorist Karl Sieling, Jr, 17, of 22 Chestnut Hill Road was driving a 1989 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck westward near 18 Botsford Hill Road about 7:30 am August 9, when he was involved in an accident, police said.

Police said Sieling told them that a deer jumped onto the roadway, so he swerved to avoid it, but in doing so, he went off the right side of the street and struck several small trees, plus a utility pole. 

The impact damaged some electrical equipment and pulled an electric service line from its connection to 20 Botsford Hill Road, police said.

Sieling told police that he was uninjured, but they had Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps staffers transport him to Griffin Hospital in Derby to be medically evaluated due to the intensity of the impact. Police issued Sieling an infraction for making an improper right turn.

Parking Lot Collision

Police report a low-speed accident in the rear parking at Town Hall South at 3 Main Street about 11:20 am July 21.

The collision involved motorist Yolanda Dorrian, 81, of 24 Huntingtown Road, who was driving a 1996 Infiniti G-20 sedan, and motorist Jonathan Hartlett, 20, of 5 Webster Place, who was driving a 2005 Ford van, police said.

There were no injuries or enforcement actions taken.

Purse Found

On the afternoon of August 7, a woman’s brown leather purse was found near the coin phone located at the commuter parking lot on Wasserman Way, near Exit 11 of Interstate 84, state police said.

The purse contains cosmetics and clothing. The owner may claim the purse by contacting state police at Troop A in Southbury at 203-267-2200.

SUV Hits Rails

Motorist Ilana Finkelstein, 36, of Belmont, Mass., who was driving a 2001 Mazda Tribute SUV eastward on Interstate 84, west of the Old Hawleyville Road overpass at about 3:45 pm August 10, lost control of the vehicle and struck some guardrailing on the right side of the highway, state police said.

Neither Finkelstein nor two small child passengers were injured, state police said. Finkelstein received a verbal warning for failure to drive in the established lane, according to state police.

Exit 10 Ramp

State police report an accident on a hazardous on-ramp for Interstate 84.

About 4:20 pm August 7, motorist Gina Bonacci, 18, of 6 Founders Lane, who was driving a 2002 Ford Taurus on eastbound I-84’s Exit 10 on-ramp, lost control of the vehicle while making a curve to the left and went up and over guard cabling, landing near some trees, state police said. Bonacci was not injured, according to state police.

I-84 Sideswipe

Motorist Desirie Hamaker, 41, of Peekskill, N.Y., while driving a vehicle westward on Interstate 84, east of Exit 9 at about 6:20 pm August 7, was sideswiped by what appeared to be a blue or green Chevrolet Malibu, which then continued traveling westward, state police said. Hamaker was not injured.

Nissan Hits Building

Motorist Louise Gibson, 68, of Bethel, who was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima sedan about 2:20 pm August 8, was parking the auto in the upper rear lot at a commercial building at 224 South Main Street, when she inadvertently pushed the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal and collided with the front of the business known as Sweet Feet, a shoe store, police report.

Several people were inside the store when the accident occurred, but none were injured, police said. Gibson was not injured. The building received moderate damage and the auto received minor damage, police said.

Botsford and Hook & Ladder firefighters were called to the incident. Police took no enforcement action because the incident occurred on private property.

Assault Charge

Police report that they served an arrest warrant against Patrick McNulty, 18, of 58 Hilldale Drive on the evening of August 11, charging him with third-degree assault.

The charge against McNulty stems from an physical altercation in which he was involved last April at a party on High Rock Road, police said.

After processing, police released McNulty on a written promise to appear August 26 in Danbury Superior Court.

Vandalism

Sometime between August 8 and August 11, someone damaged the glass on a lamp positioned at the end of a driveway on Marlin Road, police said. The crime is third-degree criminal mischief. Police ask anyone with information on the matter to contact Officer Todd Dingee at the police station.

Warrant

After learning that police held a warrant for her arrest, Anne LaRussa-DiLeo, 54, of 53 Pond Brook Road went to the police station midday on August 12 and was charged with failure to respond to an infraction stemming from an original charge of allowing a dog to roam.

Police said LaRussa-DiLeo did not respond to a ticket issued to her last March, so a court warrant was issued in the case.

After posting $92 bail, LaRussa-DiLeo was released for an August 28 appearance in Danbury Superior Court, according to police.