Police News For Week Of October 24, 2003
Credit Card Case
Police have charged two women on warrants in connection with the illegal use of a credit card.
Police said that on August 18, Kimberly Curtis, 27, of Bridgeport, and Lisa Briand, 27, of Monroe allegedly broke into a home on Jeremiah Road in Sandy Hook and stole cash and a credit card. After its theft, the credit card allegedly was used at least twice in transactions, police said.
Following a police investigation, Curtis turned herself over to police on the afternoon of October 16 and was charged with third degree burglary, sixth degree larceny, and conspiracy to illegally use a credit card. Briand turned herself over to police on the afternoon of October 17 and was charged with third degree burglary, sixth degree larceny, and illegal use of a credit card.
Police released both women on written promises to appear October 30 in Danbury Superior Court to answer the charges.
Diamond Drive Incident
On the afternoon of October 14, a Diamond Drive man told police of a suspicious incident that had occurred at his home.
Three white woman had entered the manâs home to ostensibly sell him some blankets, the man told police. The man then realized that the women actually wanted to search his house for valuables. The man ordered the women to leave the premises, police said. Nothing was taken.
Two of the women were in their 20s, and the other was in her 50s. A black auto was spotted in the area at the time, police said. Police ask anyone with information about the suspicious incident to contact them at 426-5841.
Park Gate Damaged
Sometime between 9:45 and 10 pm on October 18, an unknown vehicle crashed into a new metal gate positioned at the entrance to Treadwell Park on Philo Curtis Road in Sandy Hook. The impact of the crash broke the hinges on the left side of the gate.
Treadwell Park has been the site of nighttime turf vandalism caused by vandals driving vehicles on athletic fields. The town had just installed the new gate to deter such vandalism.
Police Officer Christopher Vadas is investigating the gate damage and asks anyone with information about it to contact him at the police station at 426-5841.
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Castle Hill DUI
At about 8:20 pm on October 17, motorist Barbara Gill, 56, of Derby, was driving a 1996 Nissan Sentra eastward on Castle Hill Road, near King Street, as motorist Zack Zimmer, 18, of 147 Walnut Tree Hill Road was driving a 1996 Olds Achieva westward there, police said.
As the Nissan rounded a curve, it went out of control and slid into the westbound lane, colliding with the Oldsmobile, police said. There were no injuries.
Police gave Gill field sobriety tests, after which they charged her with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, and making a restricted turn. Police released Gill on a $50 bond for a November 4 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
Moving Violations
Police report they spotted motorist Michael Davis, 40, of 25 Sherman Street driving on South Main Street, near Amaral Motors Inc at about 5 pm October 17. Police said they saw an expired registration sticker on the vehicle that Davis was driving.
After investigating, police charged Davis with driving an unregistered vehicle and driving while under suspension. Police released Davis on a promise to appear in court November 4 to answer the charges.
Castle Hill Crash
While traveling westward on Castle Hill Road at about 9:19 pm October 17, motorist Vladimir Reichenbach, 56, of New York City, was driving a 2003 Jeep sport-utility vehicle that went out of control on the wet road on a curve west of Pumpkin Lane, police report. The Jeep crossed into the eastbound lane and then struck a tree on the eastbound road shoulder, police said. The vehicle received heavy damage in the crash.
Newtown Hook and Ladder firefighters went to the accident. Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members treated Reichenbach at the scene, for minor back injuries, but he refused transport to a hospital, police said. Reichenbach had been wearing a seatbelt during the crash.
Police verbally warned him for making a restricted turn.
DUI Charge
At about 9:49 pm on October 17, police were working at a motor vehicle accident scene on Castle Hill Road, near Pumpkin Lane, when motorist Robert Harmonay, 43, of 19 Valley Field Road stopped for a road detour, police report.
Police said that after speaking to Harmonay, they gave him field sobriety tests.
Police then charged Harmonay with driving under the influence and failure to carry a driverâs license. After processing the arrest, police released Harmonay for a November 4 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
Buick Vs Branch
Motorist William E. Berlin, Jr, 59, of 75 High Rock Road, Sandy Hook, was driving a 1994 Buick Skylark southward on that road on October 15, when a large branch fell off a tree and struck the Buickâs roof, police said. Berlin was not injured. No enforcement was taken.
Church Hill Collision
Motorist Nancy Kost, 36, of 7 River Edge Road, who was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe, was stopped at a red traffic signal on Church Hill Road, near Exit 10 of Interstate 84, about 5:30 pm October 13, when the Tahoe was struck from behind by motorist Joshua Doutney, 21, of 11 Oakview Road, who was driving a 1979 Jeep pickup truck, police said.
There were no injuries. Police issued Doutney a written warning for following too closely.
Three Vehicles
A three-vehicle accident occurred on northbound South Main Street, near Rickyâs Shopping Center about 7 pm October 18.
Motorist Jenio Nacinovic, 53, of Danbury, who was driving a 1992 Mazda 323, was stopping for traffic, as was motorist Stephen Kent, 42, of Bridgeport, who was driving a 1999 Honda Civic, police said.
Motorist Brian Quinn, 39, of Monroe, who was driving a 1995 Ford pickup truck, struck the rear end of the Mazda, pushing the Mazda into the rear end of the Honda, police said.
The Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported Nacinovic to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries, police said.Â
Police issued Quinn an infraction ticket for following too closely.
Walnut Tree Hill Road
Midday on October 17, police saw motorist Bryan K. Tilford, 37, of Danbury disobey a stop sign posted on Walnut Tree Hill Road in Sandy Hook.
Police said they stopped Tilford to investigate and then charged him with a stop sign violation, driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered vehicle, and driving without automotive insurance. After processing his case, police released Tilford on a $100 bond for a November 11 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
I-84 Incident
State police report they stopped motorist Florim Bajraiu, 44, of 20 Waterview Drive, Sandy Hook, for a moving violation on westbound Interstate 84, east of Exit 9, about 4:20 pm October 16.
State police said they found an open container of beer in the vehicle and that Bajraiu admitted to drinking alcohol while driving.
Bajraiu passed field sobriety testing, but a knife with an illegally long blade was found in the vehicle, state police said.
 State police charged Bajraiu with possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, drinking alcohol while driving, and failure to use a turn signal.
State police held Bajraiu on $25,000 bail for an appearance the next day in Danbury Superior Court.
Child Charge
On the afternoon of October 20, police received a witnessâs report that Marichu OâDonnell, 36, of Monroe had left her 4-year-old child unattended in a motor vehicle, while it was parked in the Sand Hill Plaza parking lot on South Main Street. Police said the witness told them that the child was left alone in the vehicle for about 25 minutes.
Police said that when they arrived at the plaza, they found the child alone in the vehicle. Police charged OâDonnell with leaving an unsupervised child in a motor vehicle. Police released OâDonnell on a promise to appear November 4 in Danbury Superior Court.
Castle Meadow Crash
Motorist David Macionus, 17, of Monroe was driving a 1998 Honda Civic sedan northward on Castle Meadow Road, near Castle Lane, about 12:28 am October 20, when he lost control of the auto as it was making a curve, police said.
The auto crossed over into the southbound lane and then hit a rock along the southbound road shoulder, coming to rest in a ditch, police report.
Macionus refused medical treatment for an arm injury, police said. Police issued him a written warning for failure to drive to the right.  Â
DUI Warrant
On October 21, after learning that police held a warrant for his arrest, Thomas Pundy, 33, of Heritage Village, Southbury, turned himself in and was charged with driving under the influence, police said.
The charge stems from a one-vehicle accident on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook last June 22, police said. After processing his arrest, police released Pundy on a $250 bond for a November 13 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
Assault Warrant
On October 21, police charged a local youth with third degree assault in connection with a July incident in Sandy Hook.
After learning that police held a warrant for his arrest, Walter Cabral, 17, of 168 Huntingtown Road turned himself over to police and was charged with the offense.
Last July 27, Cabral got into an argument over money with another 17-year-old male on Fir Tree Lane and then punched the youth in the face, requiring stitches to close the wound, police said.
Police released Cabral on a promise to appear November 4 in Danbury Superior Court.