Utility Pole Snapped In Half

Newtown Police report Brian Engelke, 43, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2023 Mazda CX-5, was traveling southbound on Great Ring Road at 11:09 pm August 2. Engelke’s vehicle left the roadway and struck several mailboxes, then hit a guardrail before striking a utility pole, causing it to be snapped in half. The vehicle spun around and ended facing northbound in the southbound lane.

Engelke attempted to leave the vehicle following the collisions, but both doors on the driver’s side were pinned against the guardrail, and the two passenger side doors were wedged shut and the trunk was also damaged. The sunroof was open and Engelke exited the vehicle via that. Engelke told police he could not remember how the collision occurred. Officers reported the odor of alcohol was on Engelke’s breath and he admitted to having several drinks at Cover Two Sports Bar.

Engelke was evaluated by EMS and transported to Danbury Hospital. The vehicle was towed.

The investigation into the incident is still open and no charges have yet been filed.

Evading Responsibility Charge

Newtown Police report that Alexandro Moore, 20, of Newtown, operating a 2015 Dodge Challenger, was backing out of a parking spot in the parking lot of 6 Washington Avenue at 11:19 pm August 2. His vehicle struck an unoccupied 2024 Lincoln Corsair owned by Jacqueline Barbaro of Midlebury, parked across the lot. Moore then left the scene, driving northbound on Washington Avenue. Barbaro heard the collision and was able to get the license plate of Moore’s vehicle before he departed.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Moore was charged with evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident.

Said Brakes Broke

Newtown Police report Tallulah Daly, 17, of Newtown, operating a 2016 Kia Sorento, was stopped with its hazard lights blinking along the side of the northbound lane of Mt Pleasant Road at 10:22 pm August 4. Ilir Mamudi, 19, of Danbury, operating a 2013 Ford Escape, was traveling northbound on Mt Pleasant Road. Daly’s vehicle began to roll backwards down the hill and struck Mamudi’s vehicle. Daly told police her vehicle lost power and the vehicle’s brakes were not operating.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Daly was issued a written warning for unsafe backing.

Avoided Deer, Hit Mailboxes

Newtown Police report Donald Godbout, 57, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling southbound on Berkshire Road at 12:06 am August 5. A deer entered the roadway and Godbout swerved, causing Godbout’s vehicle to go off the road and shoulder right and strike two mailboxes on a heavy duty post.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken.

Failure To Appear Charge

Newtown Police report Jacob Hall, 45, of New Haven, turned himself in to Newtown Police Department on August 6 on an active warrant. Hall was charged with second-degree failure to appear.

Hall was released on a $5,000 bond with a court date of August 19 in Danbury Superior Court.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Gerald Fritch, 61, of Bethel, operating a 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer, was traveling westbound on Barnabas Road at the intersection of Hawleyville Road at 7:38 am August 6. Harry Banziruk, 65, of Oxford, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Express, was traveling southbound on Hawleyville Road at the intersection with Barnabas Road. Fritch entered the northbound travel lane of Hawleyville Road and struck the left side of Banziruk’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Fritch was issued an infraction for failure to yield right of way.

Evading Driver Sought

Newtown Police report Robert Warren, 68, of Trumbull, operating a 2019 Nissan Rogue, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 4:50 pm August 6. An unknown vehicle described as an older silver dual pickup with ladders was traveling behind Warren’s vehicle. Warren came to a stop and the pickup swerved to the right to avoid him, driving onto the southbound shoulder and curbing, and making contact with the rear left fender of Warren’s vehicle. The pickup then continued traveling southbound without stopping.

No injuries were reported. Warren’s vehicle was not towed.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report YD Garcia-Masacela, 22, of The Bronx, N.Y., operating a 2014 Hino 268, was traveling on Sugar Street at 5:15 pm August 7. Brie O’Bryan, 45, of Bridgeport, operating a 2023 Nissan Rogue, was stopped in traffic at the intersection of Sugar Street and Elm Drive. Masacela rear-ended O’Bryan’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Garcia-Masacela was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Larceny Charge

Newtown Police report that on August 8, Wendy Reed, 54, of Seymour, was taken into custody by the Seymour Police Department on an active warrant from the Newtown Police Department. The warrant was concerning a larceny at the Big Y grocery store that took place in December 2024. Reed was processed in Newtown and charged with sixth-degree larceny.

Reed was released on a $1,000 bond with a court date of August 21 in Danbury Superior Court.

Failure To Obey Stop Sign

Newtown Police report Christine Charitis, 81, of Staten Island, N.Y., was traveling southbound on Obtuse Road at 11:03 am August 9. Zhicay Rocano, 35, of Brookfield, operating a 2017 Subaru Crosstrek, was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road. Charitis turned right onto Currituck Road at the intersection of Hawleyville Road, then attempted to turn left onto Hawleyville Road when it was unsafe to do so, and Rocano’s vehicle struck Charitis’ vehicle.

Both operators were transported to Danbury Hospital with suspected injuries. Both vehicles were towed.

Charitis was issued an infraction for failure to obey a stop sign.

Collision In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Joseph Deming, 45, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2005 Subaru Forester, was pulling out of a parking space in the lot of 6 Queen Street in Newtown, at 5:04 pm August 9. David Gardner, 58, of Southbury, operating a 2020 Lexus NX, was driving through the parking lot, The vehicles collided.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action was taken since the incident occurred on private property.

Rear Ended On Botsford Hill

Newtown Police report Brenda Higgins, 23, of Easton, operating a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling southbound on Botsford Hill Road at 6:04 pm August 9. He was traveling behind a 2018 Toyota Rav4 operated by Connor Moloney, 27, of Mahopac, N.Y.. Moloney slowed for vehicles ahead and Higgins did not stop in time and rear-ended Moloney’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Higgins was given a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.