Hit Mailbox, Tree

Newtown Police report Abigail Emslie, 23, of Bethel, operating a 2023 Dodge Challenger, was traveling north on Hattertown Road at 1:32 am March 9. While negotiating a left curve in the roadway, Emslie attempted to avoid an animal and went off the roadway, striking a mailbox, crossed a driveway into a stone property wall, before finally striking a tree.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Emslie was given a verbal warning for traveling unreasonably fast.

Ran Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Shannon Latham, 21, of Shelton, operating a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, was traveling southbound on Queen Street at 6:19 pm March 10. Diane Machado, 46, of Bethel, operating a 2021 BMW M340xi, was traveling westbound on Mile Hill Road. Latham did not stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Queen Street and Mile Hill Road, attempting to turn left, but struck Machado’s vehicle.

Latham was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected minor injury. Both vehicles were towed.

Latham was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

High School Fender Bender

Newtown Police report Aurora Kearney, 17, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2022 Chevrolet Trax, was attempting to leave a parking spot in the Newtown High School parking lot at 2:45 pm March 13. While exiting the spot, the right rear passenger side door of her vehicle struck the front left bumper of a 2009 Honda Pilot owned by Jose Gutierrez of Sandy Hook. Kearney was unaware that the vehicles made contact and left the scene but was contacted by a fellow student and returned to the scene.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Parking Lot Bump

Newtown Police report Daniel Briganti, 36, of New Milford, operating a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, was backed into a parking spot in a lot on Tinkerfield Road at 10:24 pm March 14. While attempting to exit the parking spot, the right rear tire of his vehicle struck the front left end corner of a 2018 Mercedes-Benz C 43 owned by David Hanley of Brookfield.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Nissan Hits Ford

Newtown Police report Julia Camman, 16, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2017 Nissan Murano, was parked in a parking spot at 66 Church Hill Road at 11:14 pm March 15. While exiting the spot, the rear right passenger side of the vehicle struck the front right passenger side of a 1995 Ford F350 owned by Daniel Sorrentino of Sandy Hook. Camman left the scene and a witness reported the incident. Police identified Camman as the driver and located her.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Did Not Stop In Time

Newtown Police report Katia Santana, 31, of Ansonia, operating a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling southbound on South Main Street near Mile Hill Road at 4:36 pm March 15. Tristan Speed, 28, of Bethel, operating a 2010 Subaru Legacy, was stopped southbound at the intersection ahead of Santana. Santana rear-ended Speed.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Santana was given a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Backed Into Each Other

Newtown Police report Richard Labash, 67, of Newtown, operating a 2009 BMW X5, was backing out of a parking spot in the lot at 32 Church Hill Road at 4:55 pm March 15. Robert Laporta, 59, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Honda HR-V, was backing out of a parking space nearby, and the vehicles backed into each other.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Found Backpack

Newtown Police report that a backpack was located on Sweet Meadow Road at approximately 7:40 am March 16.

Anyone with information or wishing to claim the item is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

Struck Tree

Newtown Police report Meghan Villano, 25, of Southbury, operating a 2015 Jeep Patriot, was traveling northeast on Swamp Road at 8:31 am March 17. Villano told police she felt fatigued and ran off the roadway right into a wooded area, where she struck a tree.

Villano reported knee pain but declined transport. The vehicle was towed.

Villano was given a verbal warning for failing to maintain a proper lane.

Unlicensed For Work

Newtown Police report that at 1 pm March 17, Anthony Funicello, 39, of Naugatuck, turned himself in to the Newtown Police Department after hearing of an active warrant for his arrest.

Funicello was arrested and charged with performing occupational work unlicensed.

Funicello was released on a promise to appear with a court date of March 27 in Danbury Superior Court.

Stole Copper Pipes

Newtown Police report that officers responded to the area of Cochran House in the Fairfield Hill Campus at 2:43 pm March 17 for the report of a larceny in progress.

Upon investigation, officers found John Franco, 64, of Milford, and Hollis Hoang, 60, of West Haven, in possession of copper piping from the area of Cochran House. Hoang was found with tools believed to have been used to cut and steal the copper from air conditioning units on the Fairfield Hills property. Franco was also found to be in possession of a narcotic substance.

Franco was charged with sixth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal trespass on public land, possession of a controlled substance, and failure to keep narcotics in the original container.

Hoang was charged with sixth-degree larceny, possession of burglary tools, and third-degree criminal trespass on public land.

Both were released on a $1,000 bond each, with court dates of March 26 in Danbury Superior Court.

Hit Utility Pole, Tree

Newtown Police report Rodriguez Poma, 26, of Monroe, operating a 2008 Jeep Liberty, was traveling northbound on High Rock Road at 7:40 am March 18. Poma went off the roadway right and struck a utility pole. The vehicle came to a rest wedged between the utility pole and a tree.

Poma was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected minor injury. The vehicle was towed.

Poma was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn.