Sideswiped Utility Pole

Newtown Police report Brendan Smith, 21, of Newtown, operating a 1994 Ford F150, was traveling northbound on Main Street at 11:20 pm January 18. The power train system of the vehicle snapped, causing it to veer off the roadway and sideswipe a utility pole, causing minor damage.

No injuries were reported. Smith’s vehicle was towed, and there was no enforcement action.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report John Riley, 24, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Honda Civic, was traveling southbound on Berkshire Road and negotiating a right hand turn at 3:14 am January 28. Police say Riley crossed the centerline, ran off the roadway to the left, and struck a telephone pole, before spinning and coming to rest on a stone wall.

Riley was examined on scene by emergency personnel, but declined transport.

Riley was arrested charged with DUI and making a restricted turn.

Hit Guardrail, Then Car

Newtown Police report Kalvin Mendoza, 17, of Stratford, operating a Mazda S Series, was traveling northbound on Main Street at 3:59 pm February 1. He was traveling behind a 2017 Toyota Highlander operated by Brian Murphy, 38, of Brookfield. Police say Murphy stopped in traffic and an uninvolved vehicle stopped behind Murphy. Mendoza could not stop in time and swerved to the right in an attempt to avoid hitting the uninvolved vehicle, and hit a guardrail. Mendoza’s vehicle continued forward and back into the travel lane, and the front driver’s side of his vehicle hit the back passenger’s side of Murphy’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Mendoza’s vehicle was towed.

Mendoza was issued a misdemeanor summons for failure to keep a reasonable distance apart and driving with a suspended license.

Avoided Deer, Hit Wall

Newtown Police report Matthew Ellis, 45, of Brookfield, operating a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was traveling north on Obtuse Road at 2:57 pm February 3. Ellis told police that two deer entered the roadway and he swerved to avoid them, going off the roadway and into a ditch, before hitting a low stone wall. The vehicle came to rest on top of the wall.

No injuries were reported. Ellis’ vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action is mentioned in the report.

Failure To Heed Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Arthur Zierzow, 70, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Toyota Camry, was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of West Street and Main Street at 12:23 pm February 5. Andrew Scinto, 39, of Fairfield, operating a 2003 Ford Escape, was traveling northbound on Main Street. Police say Zierzow failed to yield right-of-way and turned left onto Main Street, and the right front section of his vehicle made contact with the left front section of Scinto’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Zierzow was issued an infraction for failure to yield right-of-way at a stop sign.

Possession Of Crack Cocaine

Newtown Police report that on February 7, they performed an investigation at Wheels Gas Station on Church Hill Road after observing a vehicle with the wrong registration plates. Upon further investigation, police discovered the operator of the vehicle, Johan Wallenberg, 46, of Fairfield, was in possession of crack cocaine.

Wallenberg was charged with third-degree possession of a controlled substance, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, illegal operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operation of a motor vehicle without a license, and improper use of marker plates.

Wallenberg was released and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on February 21.

Risk Of Injury Arrest

Newtown Police report Michael Kraminsky, 18, of Newtown, was arrested at Newtown High School at 1:30 pm February 8 and charged with sale of a controlled substance (not narcotic), and risk of injury to a child. He was held on a $5,000 bond with a court date of February 9 in Danbury Superior Court.

Left Driveway, Hit Car

Newtown Police report Brookelynn Petracca, 25, of Prospect, operating a 2014 Nissan NV2500 Cargo Van, was traveling eastbound on Farrell Court at 6:58 pm February 8. Susan Oberstadt, 78, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2009 Nissan Altima, was traveling northbound on Washington Avenue. Police say Petracca exited Farrell Court onto Washington Avenue and the front right corner of her vehicle struck the left rear quarter panel of Oberstadt’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Petracca was issued an infraction for failure to grant right-of-way from a private road or driveway.

Driving Erratically

Newtown Police report that Ida Sword, 56, of Bridgeport, was arrested at 3:37 pm February 9 after witnesses saw her driving her vehicle erratically on Hattertown Road. Officers stopped her vehicle on Dodgingtown Road and placed her under arrest.

Sword was charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive in the proper lane. She was released on a $200 bond with a court date of February 23 in Danbury Superior Court.

Struck Fence And Tree

Newtown Police report Michael Newsome, 50, of Brookfield, operating a 2006 Ford F250, was traveling southbound on Hawleyville Road at 3:45 pm February 11. Newsome’s vehicle left the roadway to the right, struck a fence, and traveled into a culvert before striking a tree.

Newsome was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. His vehicle was towed.

The incident is still under investigation for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

U-Turned Collision

Newtown Police report Robert Kriauciunas, 55, of Newtown, operating a 2022 Tesla Model Y, was traveling westbound on Hawleyville Road at 4:20 pm February 11. A 2022 Jeep Compass operated by Wynona Williams, 31, of Brookfield, was traveling behind him. Police say Kriauciunas stopped and began to perform a U-turn from the westbound lane into the eastbound lane, reversed, and the rear right bumper of his vehicle struck the rear left bumper and side of Williams’ vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Kriauciunas was issued a verbal warning for making an improper turn.

Interfering Charge

Newtown Police report Kevin McCarthy, 31, of Newtown, was arrested at 3:27 pm February 12 after officers responded to a possible assault on Elana Lane. Upon arrival, officers investigated and McCarthy was arrested and charged with interfering with a police officer or police investigation.

McCarthy was released on a $2,000 bond with a court date of February 21 in Danbury Superior Court.