Traveling Unreasonably Fast

Newtown Police report Carolyn Chavez, 47, of Coconut Creek, Fla., operating a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, was pulling from a driveway on Washington Avenue facing eastbound at 6:07 pm March 9. Anthony DeFreitas, 17, of Newtown, operating a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro, was traveling southbound on Washington Avenue. Chavez began to turn left to enter the northbound travel lane when DeFreitas' vehicle struck his vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Chavez was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way at a driveway. DeFreitas was issued a verbal warning for traveling unreasonably fast.

Improper Turn

Newtown Police report Rudduch Lindsay, 48, of Roxbury, operating a 2015 Ford F150, was traveling southbound on Berkshire Road in the middle lane at 6 am March 13. Christopher Bray, 44, of Bethel, operating a 2022 Ford Transit, was also traveling southbound on Berkshire Road in the right turn only lane. The front of Lindsay's vehicle struck the driver's side of Bray's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Lindsay was issued a verbal warning for making an improper turn.

Both Operators Given Warnings

Newtown Police report Amy Rodriguez, 48, of Trumbull, operating a 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander, was traveling northbound on Hawleyville Road at 11:38 am March 13. Joyce Donnelly, 65, of Newtown, operating a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was stopped at the stop sign on Barnabas Road, waiting to make a left turn onto Hawleyville Road. Rodriguez turned on her right turn signal indicating an intention to turn right onto Barnabas Road. Donnelly proceeded from the stop sign to make a left turn. Rodriguez continued straight and struck Donnelly's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Rodriguez's vehicle was towed.

Rodriguez was issued a verbal warning for making an improper turn. Donnelly was issued a verbal warning for failure to grant right of way.

Hit Parked Car

Newtown Police report Kristi Norton, 38, of Brewster, N.Y., was attempting to park in an empty space in a lot on Church Hill Road at 2:50 pm March 13. A 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander owned by Jessica Paulson of Newtown was parked in an adjacent space. Norton struck Paulson's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Criminal Impersonation Charge

Newtown Police report that officers performed a traffic stop on Meadow Road after observing a vehicle had plates attached to it that did not match the vehicle at 12:48 pm March 14. The operator initially provided a valid driver's license. However, further investigation led to the discovery that the provided license was for another person and the operator was attempting to conceal his true identity.

The operator was identified as Derrick Badio, 30, of Stamford. Badio had outstanding warrants from incidents in Norwalk and Fairfield. In addition, his license was suspended. Badio was placed under arrest and charged with criminal impersonation, interfering with police operation with a suspended license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, operation without insurance, misuse of license plates, and two counts of second-degree failure to appear.

Badio was released from custody after posting a $20,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Danbury Court on March 24.

Parked Car Rolls Into Other Car

Newtown Police report Christian Alves, 32, of Danbury, operating a 2024 Subaru Impreza, pulled into a driveway on Mt Pleasant Road at 4:12 pm March 14. Alves parked the vehicle and then exited. The vehicle then rolled forward and struck a parked, unoccupied 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan owned by Theodore Gola of Watertown.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Alves was issued an infraction for operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance.

Collision In Intersection

Newtown Police report Kari Dooley, 62, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2024 BMW 330xe, was stopped in the westbound lane of Botsford Hill Road at South Main Street at 8:15 am March 17 for a traffic control light that wasn't working correctly. The light was displaying flashing red lights for traffic on Botsford Hill Road and flashing yellow lights for traffic on South Main Street. Colin Chernowsky, 26, of Shelton, operating a 2021 Ford Transit, was traveling northbound on South Main Street approaching Botsford Hill Road. Dooley drove into the intersection to turn left in front of Chernowsky's vehicle, and collided with Chernowsky's vehicle instead.

No injuries were reported. Dooley's vehicle was towed.

Dooley was issued a verbal warning for failure to obey a traffic control signal.

Struck Bridge Abutment

Newtown Police report Willette Sonshine, 77, of Redding, operating a 2018 Nissan Rogue, was traveling northbound on South Main Street at 3:02 pm March 17. Sonshine's vehicle went off the northbound shoulder, where it made contact with a bridge abutment.

Sonshine was evaluated by EMS but not transported. The vehicle was towed.

Sonshine was issued a verbal warning for failure to travel in the established lane.

DUI Charge

Newtown Police report that officers were dispatched to Sugar Street for the report of a vehicle having struck a telephone pole at 7:42 pm March 17. George Ferris, 30, of Newtown, was identified as the operator and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive in the proper lane.

Ferris was assigned a court date of March 31 in Danbury Superior Court after being released on a $1,000 bond.

Skidded On Ice

Newtown Police report Tania Saraiva, 67, of Shelton, operating a 2005 Honda CR-V, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 6:41 am March 18. The vehicle skidded on a sheet of ice and went off the roadway right and into a drainage ditch, before striking several small trees.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Saraiva was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Skidded On Same Ice

Newtown Police report Rolando Sagbay-Zhiminay, 44, of New Haven, operating a 2009 Honda Accord, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 7:04 am March 18. The vehicle skidded on a sheet of ice and went off the roadway right and into a drainage ditch, before striking several small trees.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Sagbay-Zhiminay was issued a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions and an infraction for operating without a license.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Douglas Mihalko, 57, of Newtown, operating a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado, was traveling westbound on Church Hill Road at 10:27 am March 18. Erica Venezia, 45, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2021 Ford Explorer, was stopped at the intersection of Church Hill Road and Main Street, ahead of Mihalko. Mihalko stopped behind Venezia. Mihalko told police he then believed Venezia had made a right hand turn onto Main Street and that he was clear to do so as well, and rear-ended Venezia's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Both parties exchanged insurance information and left the scene. Venezia then later decided to contact Newtown Police Department and make a report. Mihalko was contacted by phone.

Mihalko was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Parking Lot Fender Bender

Newtown Police report Joan Alexander, 78, of Newtown, operating a 2020 Land Rover Range Rover, was parked in a space in the Caraluzzi's parking lot at 12:21 pm March 18. Peter Buttiglieri, 66 of Troy, N.Y., operating a 2015 Toyota Sienna, was traveling in the same lot. Alexander backed into Buttiglieri's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Distracted Driving Charge

Newtown Police report Jennifer Gonzales, 18, of Seymour, operating a 2003 Honda CR-V, was traveling northbound on New Lebbon Road at 1:09 pm March 18. The vehicle left the road right and traveled into a ditch before striking a tree.

Gonzales was transported to Danbury Hospital with a suspected minor injury. The vehicle was towed.

Gonzales was issued an infraction for distracted driving.

Tractor Trailer Rear-Ends Car

Newtown Police report Adolph Riga, 74, of Ansonia, operating a 2020 Mack Granite, was traveling southbound on South Main Street at 10:38 am March 19. He was traveling behind a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox operated by Christopher Lesczczynksi, 49, of Stratford. Lesczczynski stopped for traffic ahead and Riga rear-ended his vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Lesczczynkski's vehicle was towed.

Riga was issued an infraction for following too close while operating a commercial vehicle.

Collision In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Gary Alton, 57, of Oxford, operating a 2016 Honda Pilot, was parked in a parking space in the lot of 5 Queen Street at 11:51 am March 20. An unoccupied 2025 Nissan Sentra owned by a rental company was parked and unoccupied in a stall behind Alton. Alton backed into the Sentra.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Left Driveway, Hit Car

Newtown Police report that Alexandra Paltin, 39, of Danbury, operating a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was in a driveway on Berkshire Road at 4:07 pm March 23. Marie Koscal, 44, of Oxford, operating a 2022 Ford Explorer, was traveling in the eastbound lane of Berkshire Road. Paltin attempted to make a left hand turn onto Berkshire Road and struck Koscal's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Paltin was issued an infraction for failure to grant right of way at a driveway and operating a motor vehicle without a license.