Weapon Found At Garner
Weapon Found At Garner
Connecticut State Police responded to a complaint from the Garner Correctional Institution September 9 at approximately 9 pm, and arrested an inmate who was reportedly found to be in possession of a dangerous weapon, a shank. After a brief investigation, the accused, Jesus Garcia, 22, was brought to the Troop A barracks where he was held on a $5,000 nonsurety bond and transferred to Danbury Superior Court the following morning for his appearance on the charge.
Criminal Mischief At The High School
On the morning of September 10, at approximately 7:15 am, Officer Steve Ketchum responded to Newtown High School following a report of an incident there. Upon investigation, the officer arrested a 15-year-old juvenile on charges of criminal mischief in the third degree. The youth was subsequently referred to juvenile authorities and scheduled for a court date September 27. According to the report, the young man was accused of breaking a vending machine near the school cafeteria.
Exit 11 Collision
State Police responded to the scene of a minor motor vehicle collision at approximately 7:43 am on September 10 in Newtown. According to the report, a 1996 Honda driven by Sonia L. Raquel, 24, of Waterbury collided with the front bumper of a 2001 International tractor owned by Falcon Transport Co. of Youngstown, Ohio, which was attempting to exit Interstate 84 at Exit 11. Raquel was cited for failure to drive right and released.
Failure To Yield
Anthony S. Fortuna, 40, of Brushy Hill Road was reportedly operating his 2004 Ford F-350 pickup north bound on Route 25 at about 5:51 pm on September 10. When he attempted to turn into Country Club Road, his vehicle crossed into the path of an oncoming 1996 BMW traveling in the opposite direction. The collision resulted in both cars being towed from the scene, and Fortuna being cited for failure to yield to oncoming traffic, according to the report filed by Officer Daniel McAnaspie.
Failure To Appear
A Newtown man turned himself in to local police on September 10 at approximately 7:19 pm, after learning they had a warrant for his arrest. That warrant had been issued earlier for Jonathan S. Buck of Great Quarter Road. He was wanted on a charge of failure to appear in court on a motor vehicle charge stemming from an accident July 27. After processing, Buck was released on a written promise to appear on September 28. He was originally charged July 27 with operating a motor vehicle while under suspension.
Sunglasses Found
A pair of sunglasses were found on Elm Drive September 10 at about 9:01 am, and turned over to police. Anyone interested in recovering the item is asked to contact police at 426-5841.
Off The Ramp
A Waterbury operator was charged with failure to drive in the established lane after State Police said she crashed on the Exit 9 ramp off west bound Route 84 at about 3:25 pm, September 11. According to the report, Mary E. Jacobs of Hillside Avenue told troopers she was not paying attention when she drove onto the ramp, losing control of the 2002 Honda Civic she was operating and sliding into a guardrail. Neither the driver nor either of two passengers in the vehicle sought medical attention at the scene.
Deep Brook Road
On September 11 at approximately 7:46 pm, police were dispatched to a reported motor vehicle collision on Deep Brook Road. According to the responding officer Daniel McAnaspie, Brian P. McGaughlin, 18, of Reservoir Road was operating a 1993 Toyota Camry southbound when the operator said he lost control of the steering while negotiating a turn on the dirt road, striking a brick wall on a small bridge abutment. The driver was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions, and his vehicle was towed from the scene. The Newtown Highway Department was subsequently notified about the damage to the wall.
Gas Station Larceny
A Bristol man was arrested and held on a $1,000 bond September 11, after being accused of driving off without paying for $12.02 worth of gasoline from the Newtown Shell station at 67 Church Hill Road. According to the report filed by arresting officer Christopher Vadas, the individual, Jeffrey Lillis, 26, of Field Street in Bristol drove away after pumping gas at about 12:27 pm, but not before an attendant noted his license plate number. Officer Vadas located the vehicle and pulled it over on Main Street, and noting the operator matched closely to the description given by the gas station attendant. Lillis was arrested and held on a charge of larceny in the sixth degree. He was scheduled to be arraigned September 13.
Hit And Run
Police are investigating a report of a possible hit and run that occurred just after midnight September 12 on Route 302 near Sugar Street. According to the report, the driver of a 2001 Hyundai Accent was traveling eastbound on Route 302, when the driver reported an unknown vehicle attempted to pass in a no passing zone. During the maneuver, the front passenger side of the offending vehicle came in contact with the driverâs side quarter panel of the witnessâ vehicle. The offending vehicle, police said, then turned around and left the scene before the driver provided any license or insurance information. An accurate description of the offending vehicle was unavailable to police following the incident.
DUI Charge
At approximately 1:30 am on the morning of September 12, a State Police Trooper conducted a routine traffic stop on the westbound Exit 11 ramp from I-84 that resulted in a DUI arrest. According to the report, following the stop and a brief investigation, Richard Zovich, 41, of Heather Lane in Kensington was charged with DUI and later released on a $1,000 nonsurety bond pending an arraignment in court September 27.
Rollover On I-84
A rollover crash on westbound I-84 in Newtown September 12 resulted in DUI and other charges against 21-year-old Gondas Olivera of South Street in Danbury. State Police and Newtown Ambulance personnel responded to the scene of the reported accident at about 2:19 am, and found the 1994 Honda Accord had left the highway and crashed on its roof down an embankment. After being treated and released from Danbury Hospital, Olivera was arrested and charged with DUI, making an unsafe lane change, failure to carry a driverâs license and failure to carry an insurance card. He was later released on a $1,000 nonsurety bond pending a court appearance on September 20.Â
MVA Extrication
On the morning of September 12, at about 7:48, police, Newtown Ambulance, and Hawleyville Fire Department personnel converged on a rollover accident reported at Currituck Road near Brennan Road. According to reports, the victim had to be extricated from the vehicle and was subsequently transported to Danbury Hospital with injuries. According to the report, the northbound vehicle apparently skidded, lost control striking a utility pole on its passenger side, and ended up rolling over on its roof on the northbound shoulder. Police said the 2000 Honda CRV station wagon involved in the crash was being operated by Paulette Ruggiero of Georges Hill Road. Ruggiero was transported to Danbury Hospital with shoulder pain and hand lacerations. The vehicle was towed from the scene. No charges were filed.
Garner Assault
A Garner Corrections officer was reportedly assaulted by an inmate during a brief altercation September 13 at the state prison facility in Newtown. According to the responding State Police Trooper, the 36-year-old officer sought medical attention after the incident, which resulted in the arrest of Antoine Morgan, 20. Inmate Morgan was subsequently charged for the assault and remanded to custody at the Troop A barracks pending a court appearance September 14.
Toddy Hill Road Collision
Police responded to a report of a minor collision on Toddy Hill Road at about 5:22 pm, September 13. According to the report, an operator from Bridgeport was traveling along the roadway when she slowed to check an address. At that point, a 1979 Kenworth tractor-trailer following behind came in contact with the rear end of the car in front causing minor damage to both vehicles. After a brief investigation, police provided a written warning for following too close to Peter S. Jennings, Jr, 50 of Brushy Hill Road in Danbury. The driver of the other vehicle, a Bridgeport resident, and one passenger were uninjured in the mishap.
Sexual Assault Charge
Police filed a late report September 15 regarding an arrest that occurred August 17, 2004. At approximately 1:17 pm on that day, John Morgan, 17, of High Rock Road in Newtown turned himself in to police after learning they had an warrant for his arrest. He was charged with sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor in relation to incidents that police said occurred in February and March 2004. Mr Morgan was released after processing on a written promise to appear in court on August 24.
Drug Arrests
At press time, Newtown Police were still wrapping up an investigation that resulted in the arrest of two individuals from Sandy Hook on drug charges. Although details leading up to the arrests were not available, police reported that Richard Pulver, 19, of Washington Avenue was arrested sometime before midnight on September 15, and charged with possession of less than four ounces of cannabis. Peter Lagnese, 23, of Pebble Road faced charges of possession of less than four ounces of cannabis, as well as possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle.