Five Meters Found
Five Meters Found
Police are holding for safekeeping five mechanical meters that were found earlier this summer near the intersection of South Main Street and Mile Hill Road.
The meters were found on July 23 inside a black box. Police described as disc-shaped devices as about 6 inches in diameter. They may be used to measure the dimensions of automotive brakes.
The owner may claim the meters at the police station at 3 Main Street; telephone 203-426-5841.
Ring Found
Police said this week that on August 12, a valuable finger ring was found at the Newtown Fish & Game Club property on Taunton Lake Road at Taunton Lake. Information on the matter is available from Officer Matthew Hayes at the police station.
Bicycle Found
On August 16, a Shimano-brand mountain bicycle was found alongside Platts Hill Road near Huntingtown Road, police said. Police are holding the bike for safekeeping. The owner may claim it at the police station at 3 Main Street.
Sandy Hook Collision
About 12:26 pm on August 24, motorist James Webb, 46, of 85 Great Quarter Road, who was driving a 2010 Nissan Rogue SUV eastward on Berkshire Road, slowed or stopped in preparing to make a left turn onto Great Quarter Road, after which the Nissan was struck from behind by eastbound motorist Peter Valentin, 40, of Danbury, who was driving a 2004 Audi A-6 sedan, police said.
Police said that Valentin reported pain and Webb reported a hand injury. Police said Valentin received unspecified traffic enforcement.
Camper vs Railroad Bridge
A one-vehicle accident occurred at the Housatonic Railroad overpass at Botsford Hill Road near its intersection with Swamp Road at about 9:25 pm on August 28.
Police said that Laurence Emery, 48, of Shoreham, N.Y., was driving a 2006 Gulfstream camper, which was towing a trailer, on Botsford Hill Road when the vehicle struck the low-clearance railroad overpass.
There were no injuries. Police said they issued Emery a written warning for driving a vehicle that exceeds posted vehicle clearance limits.
Burglary/Larceny
Police report that sometime between noon on August 23 and 11:30 am on August 29, an unknown person or persons entered an unlocked house on Algonquin Trail and removed some unspecified items from the premises. Algonquin Trail is near Lower Paugussett State Forest, along the Lake Zoar section of the Housatonic River. Police ask anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact them.
Toddy Hill Accident
A two-vehicle accident occurred in front of 58 Toddy Hill Road at about 7:38 am on August 29, police report.
That accident involved a 2008 BMW 328-XI sedan driven by Laura Bilotto, 50, of 58 Toddy Hill Road, who was exiting her driveway, and a northbound 1999 Saab 9-3 two-door auto being driven by motorist Kevin Collins, 48, of Stratford, police said.
There were no injuries. Police said they issued Bilotto a written warning for failure to grant the right of way.
Intersection Mishap
Police report an accident between a pickup truck and a SUV at the intersection of Riverside Road, Washington Avenue, Church Hill Road, and Glen Road in Sandy Hook Center at about 9:05 am on August 29.
In that incident, motorist Patricia Mathison Benvenuti, 40, of 73 Riverside Road, who was driving a 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck, struck the rear end of a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox SUV driven by Jennifer Rubbo, 37, of Oakville, police said. There were no injuries.
Police said they issued Benvenuti an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart and also warned Benvenuti for failure to carry a vehicle registration, a driverâs license, and an automotive insurance identification card. Police said they warned Rubbo for failure to wear a seatbelt.
Larceny Warrant
After learning that police held a warrant for her arrest, Aubrey Gionfriddo, 25, of Manchester went to the police station on the evening of August 29 and was charged with two counts of sixth-degree larceny, according to police.
Police said the charges stem from their investigation into incidents that occurred in May. Gionfriddo was released on $250 bail for a September 11 court appearance.
DUI Arrest
Police said that they responded to Toddy Hill Road near Turnberry Lane about 12:11 am on August 30 after receiving a report of a motor vehicle accident there.
Police said that motorist Michael Conroy, 21, of Oxford had been driving a 2008 Mazda 3 sedan northward on Toddy Hill Road and then crossed over into the southbound lane, striking some guardrailing along the southbound road shoulder.
Neither Conroy nor a passenger were injured. After investigating, police said they charged Conroy with driving under the influence and with failure to drive to the right. Conroy was released on $100 bail for a September 12 court appearance, police said.
Rollover Crash
About 9:16 am on August 30, motorist Donna Schultz, 52, of Southbury, who was driving a 2007 Honda Accord sedan westward on Church Hill Road, attempted to make a right turn to enter the Gas Stop gas station at 47 Church Hill Road, according to police.
At that time, motorist Kaitlin Cusano, 23, of Southbury was driving a 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-class SUV westward behind the Honda, police said.
The Mercedes then struck the rear end of the Honda, causing the Honda to flip over and land on its roof in the gas station parking lot, police said.
Schultz was transported to Danbury Hospital for unknown injuries, police said. Volunteer firefighters responded to the incident. Police said they issued Cusano an infraction for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.
(A photo of this accident appeared in the August 31 edition of The Newtown Bee).Â
Torrington Warrant
Police report that while on patrol on the evening of August 30, they stopped a driver on Main Street to investigate and learned that one of the occupants of the vehicle was wanted by Torrington police.
Because the wanted person was under age 18 when the previous violation occurred, the person is considered a âyouthful offenderâ and thus the individualâs identity was not disclosed by police.
Police said they charged that person with second-degree failure to appear in court and with third-degree criminal mischief.
Police said they held the person on $500 bail for an August 31 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
DUI Case
Police said that they stopped motorist Carol Stoddard, 69, of Ridgefield about 10:13 pm on September 1 to investigate near 259 South Main Street.
Police said they charged Stoddard with driving under the influence and with failure to maintain the proper lane.
After processing, police released Stoddard on $100 bail for a September 13 court appearance.
DUI Charge
Police report that at about 9:30 pm on September 2, they stopped motorist Jose Ortiz, 34, of Bridgeport near 55 Sugar Street for some moving violations.
Police report that after investigating, they charged Ortiz with driving under the influence, traveling too fast, and failure to drive to the right on a curve.
After processing the charges, police released Ortiz on $500 bail for a September 19 court appearance.
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Moving Violations
Police said that while on patrol about 9:21 pm on September 4, they spotted motorist Steve Alves, 29, of Bridgewater, who had been traveling northward on Currituck Road, fail to stop at a stop sign at that streetâs intersection with Obtuse Road and Hawleyville Road.
Police said they stopped Alves and charged him with failure to obey a stop sign and with driving with a suspended license.
Police released Alves on a written promise to appear in court on September 19.
Larceny Arrest
After learning that police held a warrant for his arrest, Eric D. Edel, 50, of Torrington turned himself over to police at the police station about 5 am on September 5 and was arrested on a charge of first-degree larceny, police said.
The police investigation that led to the arrest stems from a complaint that police received from a Commerce Road firm on March 26.
Police said they held Edel on $25,000 bail for a September 5 arraignment at Danbury Superior Court.
Hazardous Intersection
Police report a two-car accident at the intersection of South Main Street and Swamp Road at about 1:50 pm on September 4.
Police said that motorist Barbara Johnson of Danbury was driving a 1993 Saturn SL-1 sedan westward on Swamp Road, but was unable to stop at a stop sign at its intersection with South Main Street, resulting in the Saturn colliding with motorist Henry Coppola of Ansonia, who was driving a 1997 Subaru Legacy station wagon northward on South Main Street. Botsford firefighters responded to the scene.
Police said Johnson reported head pain as a result of the accident. Police said they issued Johnson an infraction for a stop sign violation.
SUV Vs Bicycle
Police report that motorist Carlos Berrios, 44, of Bridgeport, who was driving a 1994 Ford Explorer SUV westward on Simm Lane at about 5:12 pm on August 30, intended to make a left turn onto southbound South Main Street and thus accelerated into the intersection, but then stopped while partially on South Main Street.
At that time, bicyclist Paul Shampine, 47, of 9 John Beach Road was riding on the northbound shoulder of South Main Street and was unable to stop in time, colliding with the left rear corner of the Ford, police said.
Shampine received moderate injuries and was transported to Danbury Hospital where he was treated and released, police said.
Volunteer ambulance staffers and Hook & Ladder volunteer firefighters responded to the incident.
Police said they issued Berrios an infraction for driving without a license and for failure to grant the right of way to a bicyclist in an intersection.
Police said they issued the Fordâs owner, M. Nunez of Naugatuck, a misdemeanor summons for failure to have automotive insurance.