DUI/Drug Case

Police report that at about 6 pm on October 22, they checked the parking lot at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, after learning of possible drug activity by youths there.

Police said they found three youths within a vehicle and they investigated.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was determined to be driving while under the influence of marijuana. The driver also was found to be in possession of marijuana, police said.

Police also determined that one passenger was in possession of marijuana and that another passenger was in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thus, police charged the driver of the vehicle with driving under the influence and with possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana.

Additionally, police charged one passenger with possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana, and charged the other passenger with possession of drug paraphernalia.

All three offenders were released into the custody of their parents. 

Because all three persons charged are under age 18, state law shields their identities from public disclosure.

Pine Street

Police said that at about 11:25 am on October 25, they were called to the Pine Street neighborhood in Sandy Hook concerning a case of illegal dumping occurring on a vacant lot in that residential area.

On arriving at 12 Pine Street, police said they found Michael Morrison, 25, of Vining Road driving an unregistered and uninsured dump truck that he had used to dump a load of cut firewood onto the property without the property owner’s permission, police said.

Police issued Morrison a misdemeanor summons on charges of driving an unregistered vehicle and driving an uninsured vehicle. Also, police issued Morrison an infraction on charges of illegal dumping and simple trespassing.

Morrison is slated to appear in court on November 9, police said.

Speed Display

Police are investigating the theft of one of their automatic speed display signs from Point O’ Rocks Road.

The electronic device uses radar waves to detect an approaching vehicle’s speed and then displays that speed on an illuminated panel in seeking to have drivers conform with posted speed limits. The boxy sign, which has a black face, is enclosed by white metal panels. It is mounted on a utility pole when in use.

Police believe the sign was stolen sometime on October 22 or October 23. Two such signs had been posted on the dirt Point O’ Rocks road which drivers used as a detour while the northern section of Boggs Hill Road was closed due to a drainage improvement project.

The stolen sign is worth approximately $4,000, so its theft amounts to a felony, police said.

Police ask anyone with knowledge of the crime to contact Sergeant Aaron Bahamonde at the police station at 203-426-5841.

Old Warrant

On the afternoon of October 26 at the police station, police charged Catherine Barcello-Volpe, (birth year 1966), of Spring Grove, Penn., on a warrant with second-degree failure to appear in court and with two counts of issuing a bad check under $500.

The warrant dates back to 2000. Police said that Barcello-Volpe in May 2000 allegedly issued two bad checks to Joy’s Hallmark, a greeting card and gift shop at Sand Hill Plaza.

Barcello-Volpe then did not appear in court in 2000 after being arrested on the two bad check violations, police said.

After processing, police released her on $1,000 bail for a November 9 court appearance.

Old Bethel Road

A one-vehicle accident occurred on Old Bethel Road about 1:07 am on October 21.

Police said motorist Megan Lusita, 20, of Bethel was driving a 2000 Nissan sedan eastward near 15 Old Bethel Road, when the vehicle went off the right road shoulder, struck a rock and a tree and then rolled over, coming to rest on the street.

Lusita was not injured. Police issued her an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions and making  an improper right turn.

Toyota Crash

About 1:49 am on October 28, motorist Saurau Bhandari, 25 of West Haven was driving a 1998 Toyota sedan eastward on Berkshire Road, near Sherman Street, when he lost control of the auto, went off the road and struck a rock, police said.

Bhandari was not injured. Police said Bhandari received an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions and for failure to drive to the right.

Ford Pickup

Motorist Douglas Luessenhop of 18 Bungalow Terrace was driving a 2011 Ford pickup truck southward on Toddy Hill Road, near Sugarloaf Road, about 4:49 am October 27, when the Ford collided with a deer that had entered the street, police said.

Luessenhop was not injured. Police took no enforcement.

Audi Vs Honda

A two-vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Wasserman Way about 6:22 am on October 27.

Police report that motorist Gerard Fassbender, 58, of Shelton, who was driving a 2003 Audi sedan, was making a left turn from Berkshire Road onto Wasserman Way, as motorist Jenna Kakadeles, 20, of 77 High Rock Road was driving a 1996 Honda vehicle eastward on Wasserman Way.

The Audi crossed into the Honda’s travel lane and struck the Honda, police said. There were no injuries. Police said they issued Fassbender a written warning.

DUI Arrest

About 9:14 pm on October 28, police responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Wasserman Way and the Exit 11 ramps for Interstate 84.

Police said that motorist Harold Beras, 21, of Waterbury had been driving a vehicle that was involved in an accident.

Sandy Hook firefighters and ambulance volunteers responded to the scene.

After investigating, police charged Beras with driving under the influence, possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Beras was released on $1,000 bail for a November 15 court appearance.

DUI Incident

About 11:53 pm on October 30, motorist James Chevalier, 46, of 12 Poorhouse Road, who was driving a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck northward near 132 Hattertown Road, went across the street’s center line and then drove off the pavement, striking a tree, police report.

Chevalier was not injured. Police charged him with driving under the influence and with failure to drive to the right. Chevalier was scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court to answer the charges.

Volvo Vs Deer

Motorist Richard Hirst, 39, of 16 Scudder Road was driving a 2007 Volvo S-60 sedan eastward on Glover Avenue about 6 pm October 26, when a deer ran out onto the road and collided with the auto, police said. Hirst was not injured. Police took no enforcement.

Toddy Hill

About 4:20 pm on October 24, motorist Amanda Agius, 21, of 140 Hattertown Road was driving a 2008 Honda Civic coupe northward near 8 Toddy Hill Road, when she stopped for traffic conditions and was then struck from behind by northbound motorist Nicole Ortiz, 31, of Waterbury, who was driving a 2000 Volvo S-80 sedan, according to police.

There were no injuries. Ortiz received a written warning for following too closely, police said.

Nevada Man

While waiting for a traffic signal at the intersection of Glover Avenue and South Main Street about 9 am October 28, motorist Liliana Ospina, 42, of Danbury, who was driving a 2009 Nissan Sentra sedan, was struck from behind by a 2006 Ford F-550 dump truck driven by James Blanchard, 38, of Reno, Nevada, police said.

There were no injuries. Blanchard received a written warning for following too closely.

Commercial

Burglary

At about 2:03 am on November 3, police responded to a burglar alarm at Cave Comics at 57 Church Hill Road.

Police said that on arriving, they found a plastic drawer and a set of keys on the ground in front of the entrance to the store. Also, an electrical cord was found stuck in the front door, police said.

A person who has access to the business then came to the property and opened the front door, after which police determined that a cash register had been stolen.

Police ask anyone with information on the incident to contact them at 203-426-5841.

Accident

Police said they responded to the area of 5 Boulder Creek Road about 4:49 pm on October 31 in response to a report that a one-vehicle accident had occurred there.

The occupant of the vehicle involved in the accident was transported to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries, police said. Details on the incident were not available. The accident is under investigation, police said.