Multiple Youths Charged In Forest Incident

Police said they charged multiple youths with various offenses on the night of April 18, after the youths were found to illegally be at Upper Paugussett State Forest, near Lake Lillinonah.

The 794-acre state forest is posted with signs stating that it closes to the public at sunset, police said.

All youths involved in the incident are under age 18, so police did not disclose their identities.

Police report that they were on routine patrol about 9 pm, when they spotted seven youths outside their vehicles at a small parking area for the forest located on the section of Alberts Hill Road lying between its intersections with Valley Field Road North and Echo Valley Road.

After police spotted the group, three youths stayed where they were and four others ran off into the adjacent forest.

Police said they brought in their German shepherd for tracking purposes and found two youths in the forest, after which two other youths who also were in the forest returned to the parking area.

Police said that among the charges they issued were one violation for illegal possession of alcohol by a minor, four violations for simple trespassing, and two violations for interfering with police.

The youths who were charged with interfering with police were released from custody on written promises to appear in Danbury Youthful Offender Court on May 2.