Vehicle Towed From Building

Newtown Police report Julie Cyran, 66, of New Fairfield, operating a 2015 Honda Pilot, was in the lower parking lot at 173 Mt Pleasant Road, facing the Cassio Pet building, at 9:54 am April 21. Cyran’s vehicle traveled forward, up and over the stop block for the parking space, up and over the walkway as well as a rock retaining wall, and went through a support beam for the building’s awning and gutter before colliding with the wooden steps of the building.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was stuck and needed to be towed from the building but was able to be operated from the scene.

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

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Rebecca Soukup, 64, of Shelton, operating a 2013 Nissan Murano, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 6:05 pm April 21. She was traveling behind a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Brenda Ashby, 58, of Newtown. Ashby stopped with her left turn signal activated waiting for southbound traffic to clear to turn onto Appleblossom Lane. Soukup did not stop in time and rear-ended Ashby’s vehicle.

Soukup was evaluated on scene by medical personnel but declined transport. Both vehicles were towed.

Soukup was issued an infraction for following too close.

Collision In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Lori Thayer, 65, of Oxford, operating a 2022 Honda CR-V, was pulling from a space in the lot of Big Y on Queen Street at 7:56 pm April 21. Thayer backed into a 2021 Mazda CX-5 operated by Claire Capozziello, 28, of Monroe.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Road Rage Arrest

Newtown Police report Emanol Montoya-Garces, 23, of Derby, turned himself in on April 22 after learning of a warrant for his arrest. He was charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension, reckless driving, passing in a no passing zone, illegal operation of a motor vehicle to harass or intimidate, second-degree criminal mischief, second-degree breach of peace, second-degree threatening, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The arrest stems from a road rage incident that occurred on Mt Pleasant Road in December 2024.

Montoya-Garces was released on a promise to appear with a court date of May 13 in Danbury Superior Court.

Hit Unoccupied Car

Newtown Police report James Filan, 63, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Ford Explorer, was parked in a parking spot at Newtown Middle School at 5:38 pm April 22. While pulling forward from the space, he turned too sharply and struck an unoccupied 2021 Porsche Boxster owned by Jakub Pusz of Newtown.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Narcotics Charge

Newtown Police report that officers performed a traffic stop at 9:45 pm April 23 on Pole Bridge Road after discovering wrong plates were attached to the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that the operator, Matthew Cabral, 37, of Sandy Hook, was in possession of a substance suspected to be heroin and was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.

Cabral was arrested and charged with possession of narcotics, misuse of registration plates, operating with a suspended license, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of May 8 in Danbury Superior Court.

Hit Bridge

Newtown Police report Clinton Battle, 49, of Americus, Ga., operating a 2025 Freightliner tractor trailer, was fully loaded hauling trash and waste, and traveling eastbound on Botsford Hill Road traveling toward Interstate 84 at 4:38 pm May 1. The vehicle struck the underside of the railroad bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Battle was issued an infraction for failure to obey posted height requirements.

Using Hand Held Device Charge

Newtown Police report Bella Cortella, 18, of Bethel, operating a 2014 Acura TSX, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 9:10 am May 2. She was traveling behind a 2025 Kia K4 operated by Christopher Ballard, 45, of Newtown. Ballard stopped for the traffic signal at Mile Hill Road. Cortella did not stop in time and rear-ended Ballard’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Cortella was issued an infraction for following too close and using a hand held device while operating a motor vehicle.

Hit Guardrail, Went Airborne

Newtown Police report Davon Taylor, 31, of Shelton, operating a 2015 BMW 320I, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 6:34 am May 3. The vehicle went off the road right and struck a metal guardrail, before going airborne and landing, then rolled over and came to rest right side up.

Taylor was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible minor injuries. The vehicle was towed.

Taylor was issued a misdemeanor summons for failure to maintain a lane, operating a vehicle while under suspension, and failure to maintain minimum insurance. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of May 15 in Danbury Superior Court.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Kristal Warzenski, 41, of Shelton, operating a 2015 Toyota Rav4, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road at 4:38 pm May 2. Tracy Rotman, 40, of Oxford, operating a 2007 Lexus ES 350, was traveling eastbound on Poverty Hollow Road. Rotman came to a stop at the stop sign at the intersection with Hattertown Road. Warzenski came to a stop behind a large commercial truck that was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection with Key Rock Road. Rotman entered the intersection and then Warzenski entered the intersection, and Warzenski’s vehicle struck Rotman’s vehicle.

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

Warzenski was issued a written warning for failure to grant right of way at an intersection.

Rear-Ended At Flagpole

Newtown Police report Jane Hellman, 76, of Newtown, operating a 2024 Toyota Sienna, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 2:16 pm May 4. She was traveling behind Dora Arias-Grajales, 50, of Danbury, operating a 2024 BMW X3 Xdrive. Arias-Grajales stopped at the Flagpole, and then proceeded forward briefly before stopping again. Hellman rear ended her vehicle.

Arias-Grajales complained of injuries and was transported to Danbury Hospital. Neither vehicle was towed.

Hellman was issued a written warning for following too close.

Too Fast For Conditions

Newtown Police report Hunter Swaylik, 23, of Woodbury, operating a 2023 Toyota Camry, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 6:31 pm May 4. Swaylik lost control of the vehicle and struck a guardrail, traveling along the top of the rail for a time before returning to the road.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Swaylik was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that on May 5, officers responded to the intersection of Hattertown Road and Poverty Hollow Road for the report of a vehicle operating erratically. Officers located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. After an investigation, Melissa Gardiner, 44, of Newtown, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to maintain a lane.

Gardiner was released on a $2,000 bond and given a court date of May 16 in Danbury Superior Court.

Struck Tree

Newtown Police report Michael Smith, 44, of Danbury, operating a 2016 Audi Q5, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road at 6:34 pm May 5. Smith’s vehicle ran off the roadway left, traveling down an embankment before striking a tree. Smith told police he thinks he fell asleep.

Smith was transported to Danbury Hospital for possible injuries. The vehicle was towed.

Smith was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain the proper lane.