Hit The Flagpole

Newtown Police report Mitchell Hussong, 65, of Austin, Texas, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 5:06 pm October 4. While attempted to make a left turn onto Main Street, Hussong’s vehicle struck the Flagpole.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

Hussong was issued a verbal warning for failure to obey a stop sign.

Too Fast For Conditions

Newtown Police report Tenesaca Arpi, 18, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2017 Subaru Legacy, was traveling southbound on New Lebbon Road at 1:55 pm October 8. Katharine Stanton, 34, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Mazda 3, was traveling northbound on New Lebbon Road. While negotiating a curve in the roadway, the rear of Arpi’s vehicle skidded across the centerline and into the northbound lane, colliding with the front left of Stanton’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were towed.

Arpi was issued an infraction for failure to drive right on a curve and traveling too fast for conditions.

Three Car Collision

Newtown Police report Jonathan Kopcik, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2010 Buick Lacrosse, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 1:48 pm October 15. He was traveling behind a 2014 Ford Fusion operated by Tobias Barrett, 20, of Norfolk, Mass., which in turn was behind a 2017 Toyota Rav4 operated by Nancy McDonald, 70, of Monroe. McDonald stopped to wait to make a left turn into a parking lot, and Barrett stopped behind. Kopcik did not stop in time, and struck the rear of Barrett’s vehicle, which was pushed forward into the rear of McDonald’s vehicle.

A passenger in Barrett’s vehicle complained of injuries and was transported to Danbury Hospital. Kopcik’s vehicle was towed.

Kopcik was issued a written warning for traveling an unreasonable distance apart.

Failure To Drive Reasonable Distance Apart

Newtown Police report Donnie Edwards, 72, of Naugatuck, operating a 2025 Kia Carnival, was traveling northbound on Tinkerfield Road at 2:22 pm October 15. Jennifer Quiroz, 29, of Danbury, operating a 2016 Subaru Legacy, was traveling eastbound on Mile Hill Road. Quiroz slowed as Edwards turned right onto Mile Hill Road, but Edwards struck the rear right of her vehicle with his vehicle’s front plate.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Edwards received a verbal warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Unknown Vehicle Hit And Run

Newtown Police report Nicole Taxiltaridis, 44, of Newtown, operating a 2018 Nissan Murano, was traveling southbound on Boggs Hill Road and approaching a curve in the road before the Hattertown Road intersection at 3:57 pm October 16. A Jeep Cherokee with an unknown operator was traveling northbound on Boggs Hill Road approaching the same curve. The Jeep crossed the centerline while negotiating the curve, almost striking Taxiltaridis’ vehicle head on. Taxiltaridis swerved to the right to avoid a head on collision, and the mirrors of both vehicles struck each other. Taxiltaridis was forced off road and traveled over several rocks that damaged the bumper and undercarriage of the vehicle. The unidentified Jeep continued northbound without stopping.

No injuries were reported. Taxiltaridis’ vehicle was not towed.

Two Warned For Collision

Newtown Police report Sean Maleski, 58, of Hopatcong, N.J., operating a 2020 Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycle, was traveling south on Main Street at 4:15 pm October 16. Cristina Quiroz-Rivera, 30, of Norwalk, operating a 2007 Lexus Rx 400, was making a left turn from Church Hill Road onto Main Street. Maleski passed a vehicle that was stopped to let Quiroz-Rivera enter traffic, and Quiroz-Rivera struck Maleski’s vehicle. The impact sent Maleski and his motorcycle sliding on its side across the pavement.

Maleski reported injuries to his hand but declined medical treatment. Quiroz-Rivera’s vehicle was towed.

Maleski received a verbal warning for improper passing. Quiroz-Rivera received a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way.

One Injured In Collision

Newtown Police report Kristen Delgado, 49, of Monroe, operating a 2020 Volvo Xc60, was making a left hand turn out of a driveway on South Main Street at 7:22 am October 17. Nathan Miller, 26, of New Fairfield, operating a 2011 Honda Civic, was traveling southbound on South Main Street. Delgado pulled into the path of Miller’s vehicle, and Miller attempted to avoid, swerving into the northbound lane. Delgado continued forward and struck Miller’s vehicle, which came to a stop in the parking lot of a nearby business.

Delgado was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected minor injury. Both vehicles were towed.

Delgado was given an infraction for failure to yield right of way at a private driveway.

Unsafe Passing

Newtown Police report Eric Chan, 33, of Bethel, operating a 2013 Audi A4, was traveling northbound on Hattertown Road at 12:18 am October 19. He was traveling behind a 1997 Nissan Maxima operated by Ashley Duncan, 27, of Bethel. Chan crossed the double yellow line in an attempt to pass Duncan’s vehicle, and struck the front driver’s side of Duncan’s vehicle when he attempted to merge back into the northbound lane.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Chan was issued an infraction for unsafe passing.

Collision At Flagpole

Newtown Police report Zack Lutz, 26, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2012 Audi A3, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 6:49 am October 20. Julio Giron, 54, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2018 Hyundai Tucson, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road ahead of Lutz. Giron stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Main Street and Lutz rear-ended his vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Lutz’s vehicle was towed.

Lutz was issued a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Struck Boulder

Newtown Police report Kelly Blackman, 40, of Hartford, operating a 2009 Infiniti G37, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 4:29 am October 22. While attempting to negotiate a curve in the roadway, Blackman’s vehicle went off the road, striking a large boulder.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Blackman was issued an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions.

Car Theft Charge

On October 22, the Newtown Police Department Detective Bureau arrested Malachai Diaz, 20, of Hartford, on a warrant following an investigation into the theft of a motor vehicle in Newtown during the early morning hours of October 22. The vehicle belonged to a local equine veterinary service. At the time of the arrest, Diaz was already in the custody of the Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

Diaz was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, third offense; conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny; risk of injury to a child; conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance, second offense; and conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief.

Diaz was scheduled for a same-day arraignment at Danbury Superior Court.

Driver Hit Pedestrian

Newtown Police report Emily Slosson, 34, of Newtown, operating a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling northbound in a driveway on Hawleyville Road, looking to exit onto Hawleyville Road, at 4:54 pm October 24. Armend Emini, 46, of Brookfield, was walking on Hawleyville Road. Slosson told police she looked both ways for vehicles and pedestrians, but when she looked ahead to move forward, she saw the head of Emini directly in front of her vehicle, and was unable to stop in time, striking Emini. Emini told police that while walking across the mouth of the driveway, Slosson’s vehicle came around a curve in the driveway and struck him.

Emini was transported to Danbury Hospital with suspected serious injuries.

Due to the fact that the incident occurred on private property, no enforcement could be taken.

DUI Charge, One Injured In Collision

Newtown Police report Nadine Rooney, 54, of Monroe, operating a 2019 Lexus RX, was traveling southbound on Swamp Road at 9:20 pm October 24. Thomas O’Connell, 31, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling northbound on Swamp Road. Rooney crossed over the yellow center line into the northbound lane and struck O’Connell’s vehicle.

O’Connell was transported to Danbury Hospital for a suspected serious injury. Both vehicles were towed.

Rooney was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Rear Ended On Pole Bridge Road

Newtown Police report Javier Marquez, 24, of Bridgeport, operating a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 11:48 am October 25. He was traveling behind a 2014 Nissan Altima operated by Katherine Marinaro, 44, of Sandy Hook. Marinaro stopped at the intersection with Pole Bridge Road. Marquez did not stop in time, rear-ending Marinaro’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Marquez was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without a license and failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Erratic Driving Leads To DUI Charge

On October 26, just before 2 pm, both Newtown Police Department and Connecticut State Police began receiving calls regarding the erratic operation of a dark colored Chevrolet Avalanche on Interstate 84 in the area of exit 10. The vehicle exited from the highway at exit 10 and entered onto Church Hill Road.

A Newtown officer located the Chevrolet Avalanche in the area of 92 Church Hill Road, which then pulled into the parking lot of United Methodist Church. Upon an on scene investigation, the operator of the vehicle, Guillermo Martinez, 55, of Mt Kisco, N.Y., was arrested on the charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Martinez was released on a $600 bond with a court date of November 12 in Danbury Superior Court.

Police Arrest Possible Squatter

On October 27, Newtown Police Department responded to a report of a possible burglary on Shelley Road. Officers and supervisors from the patrol division arrived on scene and conducted a search of the property.

During the investigation, officers observed evidence of forced entry and located a dog inside the residence in need of medical attention. The dog was transported to a local veterinary facility for evaluation.

A short time later, man later identified as Delbert Henry, 37, of New York, N.Y., arrived on the scene, and following investigation, he was taken into custody.

Henry was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass, animal cruelty, refusal to comply with arrest processing, possession of a controlled substance, and failure to keep a narcotic in its original container.

According to Lt Scott Smith, the property owner currently maintains this residence as a rental property. There are no active tenants living in the residence and the owner stopped by the home to check on the property.

The owner then noticed evidence of activity inside the home, which prompted him to call the police. The suspect may have been inside the residence for a few days prior to the property owner discovering him there. Officers removed the suspect’s belongings from the home and all property was either seized as evidence or returned to the suspect.

Henry was held on a $30,000 bond with a court date of October 28 in Danbury Superior Court.

Rolling Vehicle

Newtown Police report an unoccupied 2011 Ford Ranger, owned by Dos Reis Domelas, 46, of Bridgeport, was parked at a home on Daniel’s Hill Road without the parking brake applied at 8:14 pm October 27. The vehicle began to roll down hill and struck a pillar.

The vehicle was towed.

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

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Michael Wilson, 40, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2025 Ram 2500, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 4:39 pm October 28. Keeley Green, 19, of Newtown, operating a 2008 Kia Sedona, was traveling westbound on Swamp Road. Wilson attempted to make a right hand turn from South Main Street onto Swamp Road, and crossed the westbound lane of Swamp Road, striking Green’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Wilson was issued an infraction for failure to drive in the proper lane.