Railroad Parts

Police report they spotted motorist John Evanko, 49, of Danbury parked at the Housatonic Railroad’s railroad tracks near Hawleyville Road at about 6 pm January 12, after which they investigated why Evanko was there.

Police said they found that Evanko was stealing some metal baseplates, which are used as part of a railroad track assembly.

Police thus charged Evanko with third-degree larceny. That charge, which is a felony, reflects the theft of items worth between $1,000 and $5,000.

Police additionally charged Evanko with trespassing on railroad property, driving with a suspended license, and with driving an unregistered vehicle.

Evanko was held on $5,000 bail for a January 13 court arraignment on the charges.

Shoplifting Charge

At about 1:20 pm January 12, police received a report of alleged shoplifting at the Big Y supermarket at Newtown Shopping Village at 6 Queen Street.

Police said Diana Gil, 33, of Danbury allegedly concealed an item in her purse while in the store and attempted to leave the premises without paying for it. Store security staff detained Gil until police arrived.

Police said the item in question was a container of medicine worth $12.63.

Police charged Gil with sixth-degree larceny, after which they released her on a written promise to appear in court on January 22.

Criminal Mischief

Sometime between noon and 7:30 pm on January 8, someone smashed the left-rear passenger window on a vehicle that was parked at Ricky’s Shopping Center at 71 South Main Street, according to police.

Police are investigating the case of third-degree criminal mischief and ask anyone with information on the matter to contact Officer Steven Borges at 426-5841.

Pontiac Rollover

About 9:30 pm on January 7, motorist Rachel Sack, 17, of Bethel was driving a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire coupe, with three teenage passengers from Bethel, southward on Hattertown Road, near its intersection with Merlin’s Lane, when Sack maneuvered to avoid a branch that was lying on the road, police said.

In making the maneuver, Sack lost control of the vehicle on the slippery road and then went off the northbound side of the street, traveled down an embankment, struck a fence, hit a rock and then overturned, with the Pontiac coming to rest on its roof in the front yard of 83 Hattertown Road, police said.

There were no injuries. Dodgingtown firefighters and ambulance volunteers responded to the call. Police issued Sack a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Warrant Follow-Up

After learning that police held a warrant for his arrest, Nemecio Guerrero, 29, of Bethel went to the police station on the morning of January 13, and was charged with second-degree failure to appear in court, driving with an overcrowded front seat, and driving with a suspended license, police said.

Police said the original motor vehicle charges stem from a September 22, 2008, incident on Wasserman Way, near the Exit 11 interchange of Interstate 84, during which Guerrero was driving a van that was overcrowded with front seat passengers.

Police held Guerrero on $500 bail for a January 13 court arraignment.

Fuel Tank Punctured

Police said motorist Patrick Gonzalez, 52, of 26 Mile Hill Road South, told them that at about 6 pm January 7, while he was driving a 2005 Kia Sedona minivan southward on Chestnut Hill Road, he struck a log on the road that caused his fuel tank to puncture. Police said they could not find the log in question.

There were no injuries. Police took no enforcement.

Eye Drops Stolen

About 4 pm January 12, police received a call from store security staff at the Big Y supermarket at Newtown Shopping Village at 6 Queen Street informing them that a youth had stolen some merchandise at the store.

Police went to the store to investigate and then charged the youth with sixth-degree larceny for allegedly shoplifting a container of eye drops.

Police released the youth on a written promise to appear January 30 at Danbury Youthful Offender Court. State law conceals the identities of “youthful offenders,” who are people 16 or 17 years old who are charged with crimes.

Multiple Violations

Police report that they stopped motorist Orlando Aviles, 32, of Norwalk for a tail lamp violation at about 5:20 pm January 12 on Taunton Lane.

During the course of their investigation, Aviles could not show proof of his automotive insurance, nor did he have vehicle registration documents on hand, police said.

Police charged Aviles with a tail lamp violation, driving with a suspended license, failure to carry an automotive insurance identification card, and failure to carry vehicle registration documents.

Aviles was released on $400 bail for a January 27 court appearance.