Evading Responsibility

On the afternoon of August 30, police received a report from a witness that a motor vehicle accident had occurred in the commercial parking lot at 22 Church Hill Road, after which the person who caused that accident drove away.

The witness told police that a Chevrolet Malibu was backing up and then struck an unoccupied vehicle, after which the Chevrolet’s driver drove off.

Based on a description of the vehicle and marker plate information that they received, police then searched for the Chevrolet and found it some distance away, charging motorist Russell Menz, 18, of 34 Plumtrees Road with evading responsibility.

After he posted $250 bail, police released Menz for a September 13 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Motorcycle Accident

While on patrol on Botsford Hill Road about 1:15 am August 31, police encountered motorcyclist Jeffrey Scanlon, 43, of Monroe, who was attempting to right a fallen 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which was on the road shoulder.

Police said Scanlon had been riding the motorcycle when he lost control of it and the motorcycle fell over.

After investigating, police charged Scanlon with driving while impaired and also with driving a motorcycle without a motorcycle license.

Scanlon is scheduled to appear in court September 13 to answer the charges.

Warrant Arrest

On the night of August 31, Newtown police went to New Haven to serve an arrest warrant against Clifford MacLeod, 25, of New Haven, charging MacLeod with first-degree failure to appear in court and also with use of a computer to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

Police said MacLeod had initially been arrested on the sex charge on June 1, after which he failed to make a scheduled court appearance on August 23, so a warrant for his rearrest was issued by the court.

After he posted $100,000 bail, police released MacLeod for a September 4 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.   

In a continuing series of separate criminal cases, Newtown police have posed as an underage female in chat rooms on the Internet, which accused persons then allegedly seek to meet for illicit purposes. Such activity then results in arrests.

Dodge Key

At about 5:15 pm on Wednesday, August 29, a person turned over to police for safekeeping a Dodge Ram vehicle key that the person had found near the soccer field at Fairfield Hills.

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

Auto Theft

On the morning of August 25, police learned that someone had stolen a tan Toyota Corolla sedan from a property on Saw Mill Road. The crime is third-degree larceny of a motor vehicle. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact police at 426-5841.

Bad Check

After learning that police held a warrant for his arrest, David Waite, 32, of 21 Hall Lane turned himself over to police on the afternoon of August 31, and was charged with issuing a bad check, police said.

Police received a complaint on the matter from a local business about three months ago.

After posting $500 bail, Waite was released from custody for a September 17 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Dog Violation

Police report that on August 31, they charged Heather McNally, 20, of Danbury with failure to respond to an infraction in connection with McNally’s not having responded to a past infraction which she received  for allowing a dog to roam. Police released McNally on $92 bail for a September 17 court appearance.

Evading Responsibility

About 11:30 am September 3, during the Labor Day Parade, a witness saw a black General Motors pickup truck, which was traveling westward on Hawley Road, strike an unoccupied 2001 Volvo S-60 sedan, which was parked on the right road shoulder, police said.

The truck driver looked at the damage done to the Volvo and then drove away, police report. Police are investigating and ask anyone with information on the identity of the truck driver to contact them at 426-5841.

Unsafe Backing

During the Labor Day Parade on September 3, Hawley Lane was congested with vehicles parked along both sides of that narrow street which links South Main Street to Elm Drive, so the clearance there for traveling vehicles were reduced.

At about 11:45 am, motorist Dimitrios Karipidis, 48, of Stamford, who was driving a 2005 Kia Sorrento SUV, inadvertently backed into motorist Richard Hastings, 51, of Ridgefield, who was driving a 2001 Mercedes-Benz sedan, police said.

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

Sandy Hook Crash

Police report a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Wasserman Way about 7 am September 1.

In that accident, motorist Steven Turbert, Sr, 55, of West Haven, who was driving a 2004 Honda station wagon, collided with motorist Eddie Rodriguez, Jr, 58, of Bridgeport, who was driving a 2000 Mercedes-Benz sedan, police said. There were no injuries. Police issued Turbert a written warning for illegally passing on the right.