Police ID Evading Operator

Newtown Police report Joseph Gargano III, 48, of Newtown, operating a 2006 Ford Econoline, was traveling north on South Main Street at 2:59 pm September 15. Angelo Mallozzi, 74, of Norwalk, operating a 1995 Dodge Ram 2500, was traveling south on South Main Street. Gargano turned left to enter Plaza South, 266 South Main Street. As he crossed the intersection, his vehicle made contact with Mallozzi’s. Police say Gargano continued his turn into Plaza South, turned around, and exited the lot northbound on South Main Street without stopping to provide identification. Mallozzi did not get the registration plate of Gargano’s vehicle. Police later identified the vehicle as Gargano’s.

No injuries were reported.

No enforcement action has been taken at this time.

Parking Lot Collision

Newtown Police report Maria Ferreira, 19, of Danbury, operating a 2010 Jeep Wrangler, was driving in the parking lot of 7 Edmond Road at 8:22 am September 30. A 2012 Cadillac SRX owned by Tyeshon King of Bridgeport was parked and unoccupied in a marked parking space in the lot. The right front section of Ferreira’s vehicle struck the right front section of King’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. The accident was reported two weeks after the incident occurred.

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

Rear-Ended Moving Vehicle

Newtown Police report Lissimari Torres, 38, of Scranton, Penn., operating a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 2:08 pm October 2. Maria Santiago, 67, of Bridgeport, operating a 2018 Honda CR-V, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road ahead of Torres, and was moving at the posted speed with no one in front of her stopping or slowing down. Torres said she applied her brakes to stop her vehicle but was unable to stop and struck the rear of Santiago’s vehicle.

Torres was transported to Danbury Hospital with complaints of pain in her legs and chest. Torres’ vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Ran Off Road

Newtown Police report Rachael Szor, 16, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2022 Jeep Compass, was traveling westbound on Castle Hill Road at 3:59 pm October 3. Szor ran off the road to avoid a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction that had come into the westbound lane. Szor hit the embankment, re-entered the roadway and came to a stop in the westbound lane.

No injuries were reported. Szor’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Trooper Reports DUI

Connecticut State Police report at 12:23 am October 4, an on-duty trooper conducting a patrol check of I-84 westbound, in Middlebury, observed a Subaru Impreza stopped in the right travel lane, prior to the Benson Road overpass.

On I-84 west, between the Exit 18 on-ramp and the Benson Road overpass, there are signs posted that read “emergency stopping only.” Concerned for the safety of the vehicle operator, the trooper parked behind the Subaru and activated the lights on his cruiser to alert oncoming traffic of the hazard in the roadway. Upon approaching the driver’s side of the Subaru, the trooper observed that the male operator appeared to be sleeping and knocked on the window to wake him. State Police say that during their interaction, the trooper observed that the Subaru operator was exhibiting signs of possible intoxication. Standardized field sobriety tests were administered, which the operator, identified as Christopher McDonough, 30, of Newtown, was unable to perform to standard.

As a result, McDonough was taken into custody, transported to Troop A in Southbury and in charged with the following: operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to heed road signs, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

McDonough was released on a $500 non-surety bond and is scheduled for arraignment at Waterbury Superior Court on October 18.

Brake Problems

Newtown Police report Alan Sharkany, 58, of Plymouth, operating a 2005 Ford F150, was traveling on South Main Street at 12:04 pm October 4. Mizuho Pratt, 35, of Bethel, was stopped in traffic due to an uninvolved car turning left into Citgo. Police say Sharkany applied the brakes and his vehicle would not stop, causing him to strike the rear of Pratt’s vehicle. Sharkany said he recently had work done on his brakes.

Sharkany complained of neck pain but declined transport. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Sentra Hits Mercedes

Newtown Police report Maria Leite, 19, of Danbury, operating a 2013 Nissan Sentra, was traveling on Currituck Road at the intersection with Main Street, at 3:30 pm October 4. Sonia Dias, 34, of Danbury, operating a 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL450, was traveling on Main Street. Police say Leite attempted to make a left turn onto Main Street in front of Dias, and the front of Dias’ vehicle struck the front of Leite’s vehicle.

Both vehicles were towed due to disabling damage. Leite stated she may be injured and was evaluated by Newtown Ambulance personnel, but declined transport.

Leite was issued an infraction for failure to stop at a stop sign. Dias was issued an infraction for driving a vehicle without a license.

Suspended License

Newtown Police arrested Lauren Sestito, 27, of Darien, on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension and traveling unreasonably fast, at 8:50 am October 6. She was released on a promise to appear with a court date of October 20 in Danbury Superior Court.

Struck Turning Vehicle

Newtown Police report Marcus Irrek, 58, of Brookfield, operating a 2015 Ford Mustang, was traveling southbound on Main Street at 6:18 pm October 6. Monica Cable, 25, of Monroe, operating a 2021 Toyota RAV4, was traveling northbound on Main Street and stopped in the northbound lane waiting to make a left turn onto West Street. There was a line of southbound traffic waiting to make a left turn onto Church Hill Road. Police say Cable started to make the left hand turn towards West Street, when Irrek started to pass the line of traffic on the right, on the shoulder of the roadway. The front end of Irrek’s vehicle made contact with the right side of Cable’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Irrek was issued a written warning for passing on the right.

Impaired, Unlicensed Operator

At 9:39 pm October 5, Newtown Police officers were dispatched to the report of an erratic vehicle traveling southbound on Main Street. Officers found the operator at a Shell gas station at 286 South Main Street. Upon further investigation, Vontsky Alteon, 39, of Dorchester, Mass., was charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Alteon was released on a $1,000 bond with a court date of October 19 in Danbury Superior Court.

Passing On Right

Newtown Police report Melissa Fraher, 31, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Jeep Compass, was traveling eastbound on Mile Hill Road at 12:21 pm October 8. She was traveling behind a 2007 Honda CR-V operated by Carlos Madera, 18, of Danbury. Police say Fraher attempted to pass Madera on the right at the intersection of Tinkerfield Road. The passenger side of Fraher’s vehicle made contact with the driver’s side of Madera’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

Fraher was issued a verbal warning for passing on the right.

Parking Lot Mishap

Newtown Police report Edna Roig, 55, of Stratford, was exiting a parking spot in the lot of 56 Pole Bridge Road at 7:21 pm October 9. While exiting the spot, the passenger front of her vehicle struck the rear driver’s side of a parked, unoccupied 2022 Audi Q5 owned by Ehsan Ansari of Middlebury. Roig said she was unaware she hit the vehicle and left the scene. Police contacted her and she came to the Newtown Police Department. The damage to both vehicles was minor. Ansari said he did not want to pursue charges.

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

Machinery Theft Arrest

Newtown Police arrested Frank Westervelt, 52, of New Britain, on an active warrant at 5:01 pm October 10. The arrest warrant stemmed from the theft of heavy equipment machinery on or about August 27, 2021, and the theft of welding equipment on or about March 24. Westervelt was charged with first-degree larceny, second-degree larceny, and sixth-degree larceny. He was released on a $10,000 bond with a court date of November 2 in Danbury Superior Court.