Log In


Reset Password
News

Police Reports | July 31-August 9, 2026

Print

Tweet

Text Size


Swerved Off Road

Newtown Police report Elizabeth West, 52, of Newtown, operating a 2021 Infiniti Qx50, was traveling eastbound on Boggs Hill Road at 8:24 pm July 31. The windshield fogged up due to the air conditioning inside and the humid weather outside. West told police she thought she saw a branch in the road and to avoid that and an oncoming vehicle, West swerved right, went off-road, and struck a mailbox.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

West was issued a verbal warning for failure to maintain a lane.

Crashed Into Ditch

Newtown Police report Zonia Paulino-Agramonte, 65, of Danbury, operating a 2014 Honda CR-V, was traveling southwest on Swamp Road at 2:24 pm August 1. While negotiating a right-hand curve in the roadway, Paulino-Agramonte lost control of the vehicle and ran off the roadway left, becoming stuck in a ditch.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Paulino-Agramonte received a verbal warning for failure to maintain the proper lane.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report James Galvin, 31, of Woodbury, operating a 2005 Dodge Ram, was traveling westbound on Sugar Street at 3:12 pm August 2. He was traveling behind a 2013 Mercedes-Benz S550 operated by Pablo Jimenez, 76, of Monroe. Jimenez slowed and began making a left turn onto Sugar Hill Road, and Galvin rear-ended his vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Galvin was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Rear-Ended On Wasserman Way

Newtown Police report Gualan Orellana, 33, of Newtown, operating a 2010 Acura MDX, was traveling eastbound on Wasserman Way at 8:35 am August 3. He was traveling behind a 2025 Kia Sorento operated by Audra Drake, 47, of Newtown. Orellana rear-ended Drake's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Orellana was issued a verbal warning for following too close.

Collision In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Lillian Verdi, 22, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, was backing into a parking space in the lot of 6 Queen Street at 8:46 am August 3. While backing in, Verdi struck a parked, unoccupied 2020 Subaru Forester owned by Ashleigh Bennett of Newtown.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Sideswiped Car

Newtown Police report Claiton Oliveira, 40, of Danbury, operating a 2002 Chevrolet Express, was traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road at 12:07 pm August 4. Timothy Gourley, 56, of Fairfield, operating a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, was also traveling eastbound on Church Hill Road. Oliveira left the right lane of travel and sideswiped Gourley's vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Oliveira was issued an infraction for failure to maintain the proper lane.

Rock In Road, Part One

Newtown Police report Heitor Ribeiro, 49, of Bristol, operating a 2014 Nissan Rogue, was traveling eastbound on Schoolhouse Hill Road at 4:26 pm August 4. The right front tire of the vehicle struck a rock that had apparently been moved by construction equipment that was paving the roadway.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action.

Rock In Road, Part Two

Newtown Police report Christine Conklin, 50, of Sandy Hook, was traveling eastbound on Schoolhouse Hill Road at 4:51 pm August 4. Her vehicle struck a large stone in the roadway, puncturing a tire and damaging the rim. While pulling off the road, the vehicle scraped against a stone wall.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not towed.

No enforcement action.

Too Fast For Conditions

Newtown Police report Andre Joseph, 31, of Waterbury, operating a 2006 Toyota Avalon, was traveling eastbound on Barnabas Road at 4:51 pm August 4. He was traveling behind a 2017 Freightliner M2 operated by Michael Williams, 65, of Bloomfield. Williams came to a stop in the eastbound lane and parked. Joseph rear-ended Williams' vehicle.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Joseph was issued a written warning for traveling too fast for conditions.

Evading Vehicle Sought

Newtown Police report that at approximately 7:54 am August 5, a white utility van sideswiped a black Ford F-450 in the area of Poverty Hollow and Morris Road. The white utility van fled the scene and was believed to be operated by a man last seen traveling southbound on Poverty Hollow Road.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information regarding the incident is asked to contact Officer Dennison at 203-426-5841.

Failure To Appear Charge

Newtown Police report that while responding to an unrelated incident, Jillian Pratt, 35, of Newtown, was arrested for failure to respond to an infraction at 1:37 pm August 5.

Pratt was released on a $90 bond with a court date of August 19.

Flipped Car

Newtown Police report Baibhav Baratam, 32, of Derby, operating a 2010 Honda CR-V, was traveling eastbound on Berkshire Road at 5:12 pm August 5. Baratam told police a vehicle traveling westbound came close to the center line, causing Baratam to swerve right. Baratam's vehicle entered a ditch off the eastbound shoulder through a brush and tree covered area, flipping the vehicle, which landed on its roof. A witness later disputed Baratam's claim about the oncoming vehicle being close to the center line. Officers and EMS that responded presume Baratam fell asleep at the wheel.

Baratam was transported to Danbury Hospital with possible injuries. The vehicle was towed.

Baratam was issued a written warning for failure to maintain proper lane of travel.

Both Operators Arrested

Newtown Police report William Cannon, 47, of Newtown, operating a 2019 Kia Soul, was traveling northbound on Little Brook Lane at 3:48 pm August 6. Andre Gilpin, 41, of Bridgeport, operating a 2024 Toyota Tacoma, was parked with his car idling in front of a home on Hemlock Road. Cannon lost control of his vehicle, swerved, and struck Gilpin's vehicle.

Gilpin reported a minor injury and was transported to Danbury Hospital. Neither vehicle was towed.

Cannon was issued a misdemeanor summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and failure to maintain a lane. He was released on a promise to appear with a court date of August 20 in Danbury Superior Court.

Gilpin was determined to have been the subject of an arrest warrant from Ansonia and was held in police custody during transport to Danbury Hospital. He was later transferred to Ansonia Police Department.

Both Vehicles Towed

Newtown Police report Michael Girard, 64, of Shelton, operating a 2025 Ford Bronco, was traveling westbound on Cedar Hill Road at 1:28 pm August 9. David Silk, 65, of Newtown, operating a 2026 Nissan Pathfinder, was traveling northbound on Bari Drive. Silk stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of Cedar Hill Road. Girard turned left onto Bari Drive and struck Silk's vehicle.

Both parties claimed minor injuries but declined EMS or transport. Both vehicles were towed.

Girard received a written warning for improper movement at an intersection.

Newtown Police, Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Rescue, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and a paramedic all responded to Mt Pleasant Road opposite Sawmill Road around 2:15 pm Monday, August 3. Newtown Police report a 2020 Land Rover Ranger Rover being operated by Luciano Correia, 64, of Southport, vehicle hydroplaned due to water runoff from a catch basin and severe rainfall. The vehicle traveled off the roadway, down an embankment, and struck a tree. Correia was able to self-extricate, climb up the embankment, and return to the roadway under his own power. He was then transported to the hospital for possible injuries. The crash closed Mt Pleasant Road between its intersections with Saw Mill Road for approximately three hours. Correia was given a verbal warning for traveling too fast for conditions. The August 3 crash was the fourth time since March — and the third since July 6 — that a vehicle has gone down the steep embankment at that location, all after heavy rains. Richard J. Aronson, 85, of Danbury, died July 21 from injuries he received after the vehicle he was operating went over the same embankment. —Bee Photo, Hicks
The driver of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek in the foreground of this photo was issued a criminal summons Saturday and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs after he crashed his SUV into the large truck behind him. CT State Police say the 2025 Ford E450 in the background — a U-Haul truck that was towing a trailer — was traveling in the high speed lane of I-84 East approaching Exit 10 around 5 pm August 8. Yukiko Murdock, 45, of West Point, N.Y., was operating the Crosstrek in the adjacent travel lane. The Subaru veered into the right lane, sideswiping the trailer being towed by the Ford. The driver of the Ford lost control of that vehicle. The truck went into the left lane, into the median, and then struck the Subaru, also according to CSP. The operator of the truck, a 42-year-old male from Sterling Heights, Mich., and his passenger, a 44-year-old male from Port Huron, Mich., were transported to the hospital for possible injuries. Murdock was also transported for possible injury. Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Modzelewski’s Towing due to disabling damage. Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company also responded to the crash. Murdock was issued the criminal summons for failure to drive in the proper lane in addition to the aforementioned charge. —Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company photo
Comments
Comments are open. Be civil.
0 comments

Leave a Reply