Rolling Backward

About 9:30 am June 23, motorist Lisa Cufone, 40, of Woodbury, who was driving a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee westward on Mile Hill Road, was stopped at a red traffic signal at Mile Hill Road’s intersection with South Main Street, police report.

Due to a distraction, Cufone inadvertently lifted her foot off the Jeep’s brake pedal and rolled backward several feet, striking the front end of a stopped 1998 Audi A-6 sedan driven by Brenda Green, 50, of Danbury, police said.

There were no injuries. Police verbally warned Cufone for unsafe backing.

Warrant Arrest

On June 23, Newtown police received a call from Waterbury police telling them that they had a man in custody who was wanted by Newtown police.

Newtown police then went to Waterbury and charged James J. Johann, 42, of Waterbury with three counts of second degree failure to appear in court, one count of driving under the influence, and one count of driving while under suspension.

The charges stem from a 2003 case. Police held Johann on $5,000 bail for a June 24 arraignment on the charges in Danbury Superior Court.

 

SUV Vs SUV

Police report a collision involving two sport-utility vehicles at the intersection of Route 34 and Great Ring Road about 3:14 pm June 22.

Motorist Anthony Craparo, Jr, 17, of 2 Farmery Lane, who was driving a 1999 Ford Expedition, was making a left turn from Great Ring Road onto westbound Route 34, when the Ford collided with motorist Elizabeth Bunovsky, 40, of Woodbury, who was driving a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastward on Route 34, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issued Craparo an infraction ticket for failure to grant the right of way.

Paving Gear

On the evening of June 21, someone drove onto the property of Braun Moving Inc at 46 Barnabas Road, parked there for about five minutes, and then drove off, having stolen a concrete-cutting saw and also a plate-style pavement tamper, police said.

The devices are used for pavement work. Police are investigating and ask anyone with information on the incident to contact them at 426-5841.

Five Charges

Police report they stopped motorist Vinicius Ramos Correa, 18, of Bridgeport for moving violations while traveling northward on South Main Street at about 9:40 pm June 23.

On investigating, police charged Correa with traveling at an unsafe distance, driving with an improper muffler, driving without a license, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Correa posted $500 bail, after which police released him for a July 7 court appearance to answer the five charges.

Ashford Man

About 10:30 am June 25, police said they stopped motorist Stephen Krukoff, 36, of Ashford on High Bridge Rd for a speed violation. Police charged Krukoff with traveling too fast and with driving while under suspension. After processing the case, police released Krukoff on a promise to appear July 5 in Danbury Superior Court.

Moving Violations

Police said they stopped motorist Alan Marron, 43, of Bethel about 8:49 am June 25 on Route 302 for having an expired vehicle registration.

On investigating, police charged Marron with driving an unregistered vehicle, driving while under suspension, driving without automotive insurance.

After processing, police released Marron for a July 14 court appearance.

South Main Street

Police said they spotted motorist Dennis Babanis, 49, of Bridgeport driving a 1987 Dodge Dakota pickup truck northward on South Main Street about 10:19 pm June 25 without illumination on his rear marker plate, so they stopped him to investigate near Glover Avenue.

Police charged Babanis with failure to illuminate a rear marker plate, driving while under suspension, and failure to have automotive insurance. Police released Babanis on a promise to appear in court on July 19.

DUI Charge

Police said that while on patrol about 11 pm June 26, they spotted motorist Stephen Prohaska, 23, of Bethel, swerving and driving erratically while traveling northbound on South Main Street, near Hawley Road, so they stopped him to investigate. Prohaska failed field sobriety tests, police said.

Police arrested Prohaska on charges of driving under the influence, failure to drive to the right, and making a restricted turn.

After processing, police released Prohaska on $60 bail for a July 12 court appearance.

Key Found

Police report they have received for safekeeping an automotive key to a Chevrolet and an attached black, remote-entry device that was found lying on Washington Avenue, between the Interstate 84 overpasses and Pearl Street.

The owner may claim the items at the police station, 3 Main Street, telephone 426-5841. Sergeant Darlene Froehlich is in charge of found items.

Pontiac Vs Buick

Motorist Thomas Burk, 71, of Clifton Park, N.Y., who was driving a 2004 Buick sedan southward on South Main Street about 12:10 pm June 25, slowed for traffic, and was then struck from behind by southbound motorist Blair McLaughlin, 49, of Southbury, who was driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issued McLaughlin a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Incident

Police report that they stopped a motor vehicle near the intersection of Route 302 and Elm Drive about 11 pm June 26 investigate.

During that investigation, a passenger in that vehicle, Shawn Pajk, 39, of Bethel, interfered with police, according to police.

Police charged Pajk with interfering with police and with refusal to submit to arrest processing, police said. Pajk was held on $500 bail for a court appearance June 27

I-84 Crash

About 5:49 pm June 24, motorist Lawrence Smith, 35, of Naugatuck, who was driving a 2002 Toyota coupe eastward on Interstate 84, near Exit 11, struck the rear end of an eastbound 1998 Mercedes-Benz driven by motorist Russell Juliano, 48, of Weston, Mass., state police said.

The collision occurred in heavy-stop-and-go traffic. There were no injuries. State police said Smith failed to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Flagpole Crash

Police report an accident between a coupe and a sport-utility vehicle about 6:25 pm June 23 near the Main Street flagpole.

Motorist James Leebaert, 17, of 30 Plumtrees Road, who was driving a 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo westward on Church Hill Road, stopped at a stop sign at Church Hill Road’s intersection with Main Street, police said.

The Chevrolet entered the intersection and collided with a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven northward on Main Street by motorist Altair Freire, 26, of Danbury, police said.

The Chevrolet then continued traveling across the intersection and collided with the front steps at Flagpole Realty at 33 Main Street, police said.

Both Leebaert and Freire refused medical attention, police said. Police issued Leebaert an infraction ticket for failure to grant the right of way at a stop sign.

Criminal Charges

Police said they were called to Newtown Mobil at 62 Church Hill Road at 9:17 pm June 26 for a domestic dispute that was in progress there.

Police said Curtis DiRoma, 31, of East Chester, N.Y., allegedly struck a 33-year-old woman at the gas station/convenience store. DiRoma also allegedly broke into a rest room there after the victim had locked herself inside, police said.

Police arrested DiRoma on charges of third degree assault, third degree criminal mischief, and breach of peace. DiRoma posted $500 bail for a June 27 arraignment in Danbury Superior Court, police said.

Dodgingtown Crash

Motorist Adam Pennarola, 19, of 17 Webster Place, who was driving a 1993 Nissan Maxima, attempted to turn left from Hattertown Road onto Route 302 about 9:37 am June 28, when the Nissan collided with a 1993 Honda Civic, which motorist Kim Landi, 42, of Bethel was driving on Route 302, police said.

There were no injuries. Police said they issued Pennarola an infraction ticket for failure to grant the right of way at a stop sign.

Saab Vs Deer

Motorist Colin Armstrong, 21, of 11 Hyvue Drive, was driving a 1995 Saab 900 hatchback westward near 29 Church Hill Road about 12:10 am June 24, when a deer ran out onto the road, resulting in a collision. Armstrong was not injured. Police took no enforcement.

Utility Pole

During a rainstorm about 2:55 pm June 29, motorist Jeffrey Salem, 35, of New Milford, who was driving a 1998 Ford Mustang, was backing up into a driveway at 63 Hawleyville Road, when the auto went out of control on the wet road and struck a utility pole, police said. Salem was transported to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries. Police issued Salem an infraction ticket for unsafe backing.

Church Hill Crash

About 3:33 pm June 28, motorist Stephen Palermo, 73, of Cape Porpoise, Maine, who was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Astro Van westward on Church Hill Road, attempted to make a left turn into the Blue Colony Diner parking lot, but collided with eastbound motorist Kathi Surawski, 43, of Woodbury, who was driving a 2005 Volkswagen Passat, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issued Palermo an infraction ticket for fail to yield the right of way.

Buick Vs Saturn

Motorist Mario Napoleone, 65, of Bethel, who was driving a 1997 Buick Park Avenue southward on Main Street about 12:27 pm June 29, attempted to make a left turn onto Church Hill Road, but collided with motorist Anthony Gentile, 36, of Danbury, who was driving a 2004 Saturn Vue northward on Main Street, police report.

There were no injuries. Police issued Napoleone a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Three Vehicles

A three-vehicle accident took place near 49 Church Hill Road about 11:35 am June 29.

Eastbound motorist Robert Dupuis, 49, of 122 Riverside Road, who was driving a 1993 Ford Explorer, stopped for traffic, police said. Eastbound motorist Susan Duval, 35, of 4 Sunset Hill Road, who was driving a 1999 Subaru Legacy, then stopped behind the Ford, police said.

Eastbound motorist Frank Piazza, 79, of 92 Alpine Drive, who was driving a 1987 Cadillac DeVille, then struck the rear end of the Subaru, pushing the Subaru into the rear end of the Ford, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issue Piazza an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.