Ran Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Richard Lovello, 52, of New Milford, operating a 2021 Dodge Promaster 1500, was traveling on Hanover Road at 8:19 am September 3. Nicole Bojarczyk, 17, of Newtown, operating a 2013 Toyota Camry, was at the intersection of Hanover Road and Schoolhouse Hill Road. Lovello did not stop at the stop sign and struck Bojarczyk’s vehicle.

Bojarczyk was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. Her vehicle was towed.

Lovello was issued an infraction for failure to stop at a stop sign.

Rear-Ended At Driveway

Newtown Police report Frederick Jones, 34, of New Milford, operating a 2006 Acura TSX, was traveling southbound on Hanover Road at 5:44 am September 6. Laura Pierson, 62, of Newtown, operating a 2005 Volvo Xc70, was traveling southbound on Hanover Road, ahead of Jones. Pierson stopped to make a left-hand turn into a driveway and Jones rear-ended her vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Jones was issued a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Rolled Vehicle Onto Side

Newtown Police report Jamell Jones, 38, of Bridgeport, operating a 2008 Toyota Scion, was traveling westbound on Botsford Hill Road and negotiating a right curve at 4:25 am September 8. Jones’ vehicle ran off the roadway to the left, struck an embankment and rolled over on its side.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Jones was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Unattended Vehicle Hits Car, Building

Newtown Police report that a parcel delivery truck owned by Tort Claim Coordinator, a part of USPS, was parked for parcel delivery, with the vehicle left unoccupied on idle, on Farrell Court at 11:54 am September 9. The vehicle began to roll back, striking a parked, unoccupied Volvo S60 owned by Roseann Straub of Sandy Hook. It continued to roll back, striking the front wall of a building on the property.

No injuries were reported. The parcel delivery truck was towed.

No enforcement action was mentioned in the report.

Evading Responsibility Charge

Newtown Police arrested Danielle Burdick, 35, of Danbury, at 11:15 pm September 11, on the charges of evading responsibility for property damage or injury, and failure to drive in the proper lane. She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of September 25 in Danbury Superior Court.

Burdick had been travelling northbound on Glen Road, and when turning right towards Pootatuck Park Road, she ran off the roadway left and came to a stop in an embankment.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed, but not due to disabling damage.

Two Charged On Drug Offenses

Newtown Police report that at approximately 1:45 am September 12, officers observed a vehicle at the Wheels Gas Station with the registered owner having an active warrant for her arrest. Further investigation led to the discovery that a passenger in the vehicle was a parole fugitive who had fled a halfway house in Waterbury. Both parties were found to be in the possession of crack cocaine, fentanyl, and suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Arrested was Tina Granquiera, 36, of New Fairfield, at 2 am September 12, on the charges of use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance first offense. She was later also charged with second-degree failure to appear. She was held on a $20,000 bond with a court date later that day in Danbury Superior Court. Also arrrested was Shawn Pennywell, 44, of Waterbury, at 2 am September 12, on the charges of use of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance third/sbs offense. He was held without bond to be taken back into custody for violating his parole. He had a court date later that day in Danbury Superior Court.

Witness Sought After Conflicting Stories

Newtown Police report Hamdani El, 30, of Wolcott, operating a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB, was stopped in the westbound travel lane of Mile Hill Road near South Main Street at 8:45 am September 12. Pricilla Martinez, 45, of Newtown, operating a 2023 Porsche Macan, was stopped behind El. El told police that Martinez struck the rear of his vehicle. Martinez told police that El’s vehicle rolled backwards into her.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Any person who witnessed the accident is asked to call the Newtown Police Department at 203-436-5841 and reference case #2400013631.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Tracy Zeldis, 43, of Redding, operating a 2015 Toyota Highlander, was traveling north on Poverty Hollow Road and stopped at the intersection with Hattertown Road at 11:48 am September 12. James Hernandez, 45, of Trumbull, operating a 2025 Toyota Camry, was traveling east on Hattertown Road and stopped at the intersection with Poverty Hollow Road. Hernandez proceeded into the intersection to travel east on Hattertown Road. Before Hernandez could clear the intersection, Zeldis traveled forward and struck Hernandez’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Zeldis was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that at 3:13 pm September 14, an officer responded to a call for erratic operation of a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, they found the vehicle had become disabled after hitting a curb.

Upon investigation, police arrested Michelle Samela, 67, of Thomaston, on the charge of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Samela was released after posting a $500 bond with a court date of September 26 in Danbury Superior Court.

Erratic Vehicle

Newtown Police report that at 11:44 pm September 14, the department received a complaint of a pick up truck being operated in an erratic manner on South Main Street. Upon arrival, the vehicle was located traveling westbound on Button Shop Road.

After numerous traffic violations were observed by officers, a motor vehicle stop was performed and an investigation was conducted.

Police arrested Josimar Santana, 38, of Danbury, and charged him with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the effect of alcohol or drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane, and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

He was released on a $500 bond with a court date of September 24 in Danbury Superior Court.