Crime And Traffic Trouble Kept Police Busy In 2005

By Andrew Gorosko

During 2005, three major criminal cases were in the law enforcement spotlight.

In October, a Danbury Superior Court judge granted special probation to a former Newtown High School teacher, which could lead to the dismissal of multiple felony-level larceny and forgery charges that are pending against the teacher.

The judge granted Sabrina Post, 47, of 18 Split Rock Road, Newtown, participation in a two-year probationary program known as accelerated rehabilitation.

Earlier this year, Ms Post had pleaded “not guilty” to one count of first degree larceny, two counts of second degree larceny, four counts of second degree forgery, and one count of criminal attempt to commit fifth degree larceny. Seven of those eight charges are felonies. Police had arrested Ms Post on two separate warrants in April.

Under the terms of an August agreement, Ms Post quit her high school teaching job and agreed to provide $11,194 in restitution to the public schools. The school system agreed not to oppose Ms Post’s court application for accelerated rehabilitation. If Ms Post successfully completes the two-year probation, the eight criminal charges would be dismissed.

In another major criminal case, Middlebury police in August arrested a Middlebury woman, who police say had an illegal sexual relationship with an unidentified underage male Newtown High School (NHS) student while the woman formerly worked as a NHS guidance office intern.

Jillian Gehrkens, now 27, faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of risk of injury or impairing the morals of a minor, and one count of violation of the conditions of release. Ms Gehrkens has pleaded “not guilty” to all charges and is free on $25,000 bail. Ms Gehrkens, who is under limited house arrest at her residence, is scheduled to next appear in Waterbury Superior Court in February. A conviction on a second-degree sexual assault charge carries a mandatory minimum nine-month jail sentence.

In another major criminal case, based on DNA evidence, police in March arrested a man who allegedly burglarized a Georges Hill Road home early one morning in January, brutally beat and sexually assaulted an unidentified  middle-aged woman, and then fled the crime scene before police arrived in response to the woman’s calls for help.

After an investigation, police arrested Kenneth Martin Sells, now 42, formerly of Stratford, on a Danbury Superior Court warrant charging him with three felonies — first degree sexual assault, second degree assault, and first degree burglary.

Sells was being held this week on $200,000 bail at the Bridgeport Correctional Center, and is awaiting trial on the charges in Danbury Superior Court. A conviction on such charges would result in a lengthy prison sentence.

Traffic Woes

With its increasing population, the town faces increasing traffic volumes on local roads and the consequent need to better manage traffic flow, especially in congested areas near the town center.

During 2005, one area with heavy traffic that held the continuing attention of the Police Commission was Queen Street, a mile-long, north-south road linking Church Hill Road to Mile Hill Road. The northern section of Queen Street holds the town’s central business district, as well as Newtown Middle School, resulting in heavy traffic.

During the past year, Queen Street residents often attended Police Commission sessions in seeking to resolve their concerns about the volume, speed, and noise of traffic along the road. The Police Commission is the local traffic authority.

In response to the Queen Street traffic concerns, the regional planning agency is conducting the Queen Street Traffic Study. Public meetings will be held to solicit residents’ views about traffic and pedestrian issues.

Early on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 24, as heavy snow fell during a late autumn storm, more than 26 vehicles were involved in a massive accident on an icy eastbound Interstate 84. The eastbound lanes were then closed to traffic for more than three hours as emergency service workers picked through the wreckage.

The huge accident, which was actually a series of smaller multiple-vehicle accidents that occurred in the same general area in rapid sequence, took place at the I-84 bridges that cross above Hanover Road and The Boulevard Extension. Wreckage from the multiple crashes was strewn across a lengthy area.

The incident was the largest auto accident in the area in memory. State police estimate that more than 75 people, including drivers and passengers, were involved in the multiple crashes that were first reported at 3:47 am. At least 15 injured people were transported to Danbury Hospital. Most of the injuries were relatively minor.