Sugar Street DUI

On September 17 at about 11:09 pm, local officers report they stopped a vehicle being operated on Sugar Street for speeding.

Upon further investigation, police arrested Ryan Kelleher, 31, of Oakridge Road in Bethel, on the speeding charge, as well as for driving under the influence.

Kelleher was processed and subsequently released on a $100 bond pending an October 1 court appearance.

Trailer Caused Crash

Police issued a written warning to Douglas Hearns of Patterson, N.Y., for improper parking following a minor traffic crash September 16 at about 1:28 pm on Taunton Lake Drive.

According to police, Charles Botsford, Jr of Newtown was lawfully operating a 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup southbound on Taunton Lake Drive when he came upon a trailer owned by Hearns, unhitched and pointing northbound on the southbound side of the roadway.

As Mr Botsford came upon the obstruction, police report he was unable to stop and avoid striking the free-standing trailer, damaging the Dodge pickup to the extent it had to be towed from the scene.

Two Infractions

Police responded to the intersection of Washington Avenue and Riverside Road at about 1:13 pm on September 17 to investigate a minor collision. According to the report, a 2003 Chevy Van being operated by Steven A. Paliotta, 54, of Cedar Hill Road was stopped in the northbound lane behind a 2007 Toyota RAV 4 being operated by Rosa Solis, 36, of Danbury.

Police say the van suddenly moved striking the rear of the Toyota after the operator’s foot slipped off the brake. Paliotta was issued an infraction for making an unsafe movement, and Solis was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license.

No injuries were reported, and both vehicles were apparently drivable from the scene.

Bumper-To-Bumper, Literally

On September 19 at about 12:53 pm, officers were called to investigate a minor collision that reportedly occurred after a 2003 Nissan Altima exited a parking lot at 151 South Main, striking a 2011 Audi Q5 being operated by Kimberly Haywood of Newtown, who was turning into a private parking area at 150 South Main Street.

Police say the bumpers of the two vehicles brushed. The operator of the Nissan, Marcello Ursini of Shelton was issued a written warning for following too close.

Outstanding Warrant

After a routine traffic investigation following a traffic stop on Toddy Hill Road, local police arrested Ian Leslie Gingell of Main Street, Monroe for operating under suspension, and traveling unreasonably fast.

Police also learned that Gingell had an outstanding failure to appear warrant for Gingell’s arrest issued out of Connecticut State Police Troop A stemming from an earlier arrest on August 30, 2013. He was processed locally and released on a $250 cash bond pending an October 1 court date in Danbury.

He was also arrested on the FTP charge and released on a $150 cash bond pending a separate October 6 court date in Waterbury.

2013 Warrant Arrest

On September 18 at about 7:30 pm, Newtown Police learned that Hartford Police had arrested a Newtown man with an active local warrant.

After being transported to Newtown, David V. Perri, 35, of Old Mill Road was charged with identity theft, criminal impersonation, illegal use of another person’s credit card, and larceny in the 3rd degree. That warrant stemmed from a 2013 investigation.

He was held on a $15,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on October 1.

Missing Bicycle

Police are searching for a bicycle that went missing from the area of 8 Nunnawauk Road on September 19. The bike is black with blue indicator lights on the front and rear tires.

Anyone with information about the missing bike is asked to call Officer Thibodeau at 203-426-5841.

Botsford Hill Road Crash

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to a crash on Botsford Hill Road September 11 at about 10:21 pm.

Upon arrival, police report that Dwan Williams, 32, of Bridgeport was operating a 1999 Lincoln Continental northbound when the vehicle crossed the center line and struck a utility pole. A minor injury was reported.

Williams was subsequently issued a written warning for making a restricted turn. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

DUI Arrest

A Bethel resident, Donald E. Butler, 34, of South Osborne Street, was arrested by local police September 18, following a reported collision in the area of 189 Brushy Hill Road at about 9:26 pm.

After a call about a two vehicle crash, police located Butler, who reportedly had just left a Castle Meadow Road residence in a 2001 Volkswagon Passat. As he was heading southbound, on Brushy Hill, police say the Passat crossed into the path of a 2004 Ford F-150 pickup being operated by Watertown resident Thomas Mondak, causing minor damage.

After an investigation, police arrested Butler on a charge of DUI, and on a charge of failure to keep right on a curve. He was released on a $100 cash bond pending an October 1 court date.

Church Hill Road Collision

On September 16 at about 7:52 am, police responded to a minor rear end collision in the area of 78 Church Hill Road. Upon investigation, officers issued a written warning to Michael Meyer, 16, of North Branch Road, Newtown, for following too close.

According to the report, Meyer was operating a 1992 Cadillac El Dorado eastbound behind a 2015 Honda CRV being operated by Lisa Anna Narayanon of Hanover Road, which was slowing to turn into 78 Church Hill Road. Meyer then struck the rear of the Honda causing minor damage. No injuries were reported.

Poverty Hollow Crash

Police responded to a reported collision at the intersection of Poverty Hollow and Key Rock Roads on September 11 at about 9:24 pm. On arrival, officers discovered that a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox SUV was being operated by Qyntha Sapenter, 42, of Newtown, northbound on Poverty Hollow Road, was struck when a 2013 Ford Fusion being operated eastbound on Hattertown Road by Matthew Smith, 26, of Shelton reportedly failed to stop for a stop sign.

After the initial contact, the Ford continued into a sharp turn, traveled off the eastbound shoulder striking a small rock wall and coming to rest in brush off the roadway.

No injuries were reported, however, Smith was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign, and Sapenter was issued an infraction for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Warrant Served

Following the investigation of a separate incident on September 16, local police discovered an outstanding warrant out of Westport for Newtown resident Katherine Sullivan, 50, of Canterbury Lane.

While under arrest on separate charges, Sullivan was also charged with Failure to Appear in the 2nd Degree, and held on a $495 appearance bond pending a September 30 date in Norwalk Superior Court.

Two Vehicles Damaged

According to police, both vehicles involved in a collision at the intersection of Pearl Street and Philo Curtis Road were sufficiently damaged and were not drivable from the scene.

On September 9 at about 2:16 pm, officers were called to the intersection after a reported crash involving a 2005 Volvo sedan being operated by Rachael DiCristina, 17, of Ashford Lane, and a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe being operated by Joseph Tortora, 75, of Jeremiah Road. Police state that the Saab was stopped at the eastbound intersection when the driver advanced into Philo Curtis Road, colliding with the Chevrolet.

No injuries were reported. DiCristina was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Struck By Vehicle

At about 5:42 pm September 22, police, ambulance, and fire crews responded to a residence on Summitt Road after a report that an individual at the location was struck or run over by her own vehicle.

Upon arrival, police determined that Kristi Derubertis, 31, was reversing a Nissan Pathfinder in her driveway, when she stepped from the vehicle to retrieve an item. Police state that the vehicle was not placed in park, and subsequently rolled over the driver. Derubertis was then transported to a local hospital for evaluation of minor injuries sustained.

Car On Embankment

Police responded to a report of a single vehicle collision at about 8:58 pm on September 19 in the area of Botsford Hill and Swamp Roads. Upon arrival they located a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer being operated by Darren Wallace, 24, of Moose Hill Road, Monroe.

Police state the driver confessed he observed a turn too late while traveling westbound, and unable to negotiate the turn, traveled across the eastbound lane, striking a curb and coming to rest on an embankment.

Wallace received an infraction for failure to drive right on a curve.

Motorcycle Off Road

At about 4:51 pm on September 19, Jim Harding, 39, of Westport was operating a 2007 Motoguzzi motorcycle eastward on Plumtrees Road approaching the intersection of Taunton Hill Road. At the same time, Francisco Flores was operating a 1990 Ford F-550 pickup southbound on Taunton Hill Road approaching the same intersection.

After making a stop, police state that the Ford proceeded forward, but the motorcycle traveled through the four way stop, swerving to avoid the truck and striking the curb, throwing the operator over the handlebars. Hawleyville Fire and Newtown Ambulance Volunteers responded to the scene and transported Harding to a local hospital after he complained of chest, right hand and left shoulder injuries.

Police report that the motorcycle operator said he did not see the stop sign. He was subsequently issued a written warning for failure to obey a stop sign. There was no contact with or damage to the Ford.

Highway Rear Ender

State Police responded to a reported crash September 17 at about 8:42 am in the area of Interstate 84 Exit 11 in Newtown. Upon arrival and an investigation, they report that Robert Bizewski, 19, of Ansonia, was operating a 2006 GMC Canyon westbound, when he failed to slow for traffic and struck the rear of a 2013 Toyota Corolla operated by Nicole Messier, 27, of Middlebury.

Ms Messier reported an injury and was attended to by emergency responders. Bizewski was issued a warning for following too closely.

Chain Reaction

State Police reported a three vehicle collision on September 17 at about 4:15 pm in the area of Exit 9 of Interstate 84 eastbound.

Upon investigation Troopers determined that Ian Gingell, 24, of Main Street, Monroe was operating a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix when he failed to stop for slowing traffic, colliding with the rear of 2015 Honda CR-V being operated by Orges Zoto, 33, of Southbury. The force pushed the Honda into the rear of a 2010 Jeep Liberty being operated by Cassidy Lockwood, 19, of Harwinton. No injuries were reported, but the Pontiac had to be towed from the scene.

No enforcement action against Gingell was listed in the report.

I-84 Collision

On September 20 at about 8:02 am, State Police responded to Interstate 84 westbound in the area of Exit 11 and discovered a two-vehicle collision had occurred.

Following an investigation, Troopers state that Lisa Boros-Fern was operating a 2000 Mazda Miata entering the highway at Exit 11 from the right lane. At the same time, Timothy Ray Kuhn, 60, of Southbury was operating a 2005 Dodge Neon in the center lane, and suddenly changed lanes from the center to the right, striking the Miata. The Mazda veered into the median guard rail coming to rest facing eastward, while the Dodge crossed to the opposite shoulder striking the guard rail facing east.

No injuries were reported and Kuhn was issued an infraction for making an unsafe lane change.

Wood Debris Damage

Two vehicles were reportedly damaged by stray pieces of wood that were lying in the travel lanes of eastbound Interstate 84 in the noon hour on September 22.

State police report that at about 12:10 pm a commercial van owned by Ursinas College in Pennsylvania was traveling eastbound, and struck a log in the road during a lane change. Since there was little damage, no injuries and no witnesses were available to identify an offending vehicle carrying the wood, no action was taken.

Then, about 20 minutes later in the same area, a Trumbull resident was operating a 2007 Toyota Prius when he also struck a piece of wood debris in the center lane. That vehicle was sufficiently damaged and had to be towed from the scene. No injuries were reported.

90 MPH DUI

A State Trooper from Southbury Troop A was traveling west on Interstate 84 in the area of Exit 11 in Newtown on September 14, when he stated he observed a Chevrolet pickup travelling at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the trooper states that the driver, Stephen Woodin, 42, of Gilbert Street, Ridgefield reported he was driving without a license. However, the trooper detected the smell of alcohol and initiated an investigation.

The operator reportedly then stated he had been drinking. After failing a field sobriety test, Woodin was arrested and charged with reckless driving in excess of 85 miles per hour, operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and operation without a license.

He was later released on three $500 non-surety bonds pending a court appearance.

Under The Influence

On September 7, a State Trooper was assisting a disabled motorist in the area of Interstate 84 westbound near Exit 10, when she learned that an erratic driver was operating an Audi Q5 in the vicinity. She then observed the vehicle approaching and initiated a traffic stop, reportedly smelling the odor of alcohol on the driver, Caitlin Rascelles, 35, of South Salem, NY.

The driver was unable to perform a field sobriety test, according to police, and she was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as being cited for failure to drive in the proper lane. She was later released on a $500 bond pending a court appearance.