Motorcyclist Injured

Newtown Police report Tameira Leandro, 43, of Sandy Hook, operating a 1985 Suzuki Gs700 motorcycle, was traveling southbound on Glen Road at 9:09 pm August 13. Leandro lost control near the intersection with Walnut Tree Hill Road, going off the roadway with the motorcycle on its side.

Leandro was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown EMS with a suspected serious injury.

No enforcement action was taken.

Vehicle Flees Scene

Newtown Police report that a 2003 Volkswagen Passat owned by Mark Chernoff of Newtown was parked unoccupied outside the Newtown Municipal Center at 2:03 pm on August 16. An unknown vehicle described as a silver SUV with a possible partial plate ending in 111 backed out of a spot and struck Chernoff’s vehicle, causing paint transfer and a dent. The operator of the silver SUV left the area.

Hit Car Leaving Driveway

Newtown Police report Linda Crofut, 66, of Bridgewater, operating a 2013 Subaru Impreza, was attempting to make a right turn from a driveway on Church Hill Road into the westbound travel lane at 7:17 pm August 16. Madeleine McCall, 21, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Nissan Altima, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road. Police say Crofut pulled out in front of McCall’s vehicle. The front driver’s side of Crofut’s vehicle collided with the rear passenger’s side of McCall’s vehicle, causing Crofut’s vehicle to swerve right and come to rest on the sidewalk off the westbound travel lane.

No injuries were reported.

Crofut was issued an infraction for failure to yield right of way at a driveway.

Arrested For Assaulting Officer

Newtown Police report that Marcelino Hernandez, 26, of Hartford, was arrested August 17 on an active warrant stemming from an incident with the Newtown Police Department in May 2022.

Hernandez was charged with assault on an officer and interfering with an officer in connection with the incident. He was held on a $20,000 bond with a court date of August 18 in Danbury Superior Court.

Backed Into Each Other

Newtown Police report Gregory Heinzer of Monroe, operating a 2005 Subaru Legacy, and Devin O’Keeffe of Brookfield, operating a 2022 Honda HR-V, were both backing from parking spaces in a lot off Hawleyville Road when the vehicles collided.

There was minor cosmetic damage to both vehicles and no injuries.

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

Car Versus Motorcycle

Newtown Police report Aviva Abrams, 21, of Rego Park, N.Y., operating a 2017 Nissan Rogue, was traveling north on Hattertown Road at 1:51 pm August 19. Jake Connor, 22, of Easton, operating a 2016 Harley Davidson XL 1200CX, was traveling north on Poverty Hill Road. Abrams told police she came to the intersection of Poverty Hill Road, stopped at the stop sign, and then proceeded into the intersection. She said she then heard a motorcycle, and looked to her left and the motorcycle struck the driver’s side front of her car. Connor told police he came to the intersection, stopped for the stop sign and proceeded through the intersection.

As he entered the intersection he saw Abrams’ vehicle approach the intersection and proceed past the stop sign without stopping, which struck the right side of his motorcycle, causing him to come off the motorcycle and onto the hood of Abrams’ vehicle. Connor told police the motorcycle was pushed north on Hattertown Road a few hundred feet.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

DUI Charges

Newtown Police report Joseph Shepard, 46, of Newtown, was arrested at 9:30 pm August 21 on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs; failure to drive in a proper lane; and making an improper turn.

He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of September 7.

Indecision Leads To Collision

Newtown Police report Kaustav Mitra, 24, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2011 Hyundai Accent, was traveling northbound on Toddy Hill Road at 10:25 pm August 21. Kimber Staples, 28, of Trumbull, operating a 2020 Kia Telluride, was traveling northbound on Toddy Hill Road behind Mitra. Staples told police that Mitra signaled to turn left onto Turkey Roost Road but did not make the turn and continued straight. Mitra then signaled right to turn into a driveway and began to turn. Staples then signaled to pass Mitra on the left side since she believed Mitra was exiting the roadway. Before completing the full right turn into the driveway, Mitra turned back onto Toddy Hill Road and struck Staples’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Minor damage was done to both vehicles.

Mitra was issued a citation for failure to carry an insurance card while operating a motor vehicle.

Police Seeking Road Rager

Newtown Police report that at 12:30 pm August 22, officers were dispatched to the area of South Main Street and Mile Hill Road on a report of a road rage incident. It was alleged that an operator exited his vehicle with a machete and used it to cause damage to another operator’s vehicle.

The suspect vehicle was described as a tan colored, four door sedan bearing Florida registration plates. The suspect operator is described as a tan-skinned man, approximately 5’10” to 6’, short brown hair and wearing a baggy T-shirt.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

Assault And Disorderly Conduct

Newtown Police report William Gottschalck, 23, of Newtown, was arrested at 7:48 pm August 22 on the charges of five counts of disorderly conduct, interfering with an emergency call, and five counts of third-degree assault. He was held on a $35,000 bond with a court date of August 23.

Violation Of A Protective Order

Newtown Police report Joelia Monteiro, 45, of Westbrook, Maine, was arrested at 7:52 pm August 22 on the charge of violation of a protective order. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of August 23.

Following Too Closely

Newtown Police report Babak Jarrett, 31, of Brookfield, operating a 2014 Subaru Forester, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 7:53 am August 23. Jarrett was traveling behind a 2021 Buick Enclave operated by Lindsey Marocchini, 35, of Watertown. Police say Marocchini stopped for eastbound traffic and the front of Jarrett’s vehicle made contact with the rear of Marocchini’s vehicle, causing minor damage to both.

No injuries were reported.

Jarrett was issued a written warning for following too closely.

Tix Hits Pilot

Newtown Police report Peter Lam, 41, of Danbury, operating a 2021 Acura Tix, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 7:21 pm August 23. He was traveling behind a 2018 Honda Pilot operated by Brooke Guimont, 17, of Trumbull. Guimont stopped at the traffic light at 228 South Main Street, and Lam failed to stop safely behind Guimont, causing the front end of his vehicle to collide with the rear bumper of Guimont’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Lam was issued an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.