Collision In Parking Lot?

Newtown Police report Anne Burns of Newtown, operating a 2021 Jeep Wrangler, was pulling into the parking lot at 26 Hawleyville Road at 6:52 am October 12. A 2024 Chevrolet Colorado owned by Walter Lopez of Danbury was parked in the same lot. Burns pulled into the spot and Lopez said he was in the car and felt the impact. Burns denied hitting the vehicle. Investigation showed matching damage between the vehicles, but camera footage was inconclusive.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

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

Hit Utility Pole, Bridge Wall

Newtown Police report Alex Charles, 29, of Trumbull, operating a 2021 Nissan Altima, was traveling westbound on Botsford Hill Road at 1:30 pm October 12. While negotiating a right-hand curve, the vehicle left the roadway left, and struck a utility pole, then came to a stop after striking the wall of the railroad bridge.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Charles was issued a written warning for failure to drive in the proper lane.

Following Too Close

Newtown Police report Dylan Mercaldi, 25, of Monroe, operating a 025 Nissan Frontier, was traveling eastbound on Wasserman Way at 3:04 pm October 13. He was traveling behind a 2024 Nissan Rogue operated by Christina Nalbone, 37, of Trumbull, which was stopped waiting for traffic to clear to make a right turn. Mercaldi moved forward and to the left, and struck the rear corner of Nalbone's vehicle.

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

Mercaldi was issued an infraction for following too close.

Medical Condition May Have Caused Crash

Newtown Police report Daniel Passarelli, 49, of Naugatuck, operating a 2025 Ram 1500, was traveling eastbound on Poverty Hollow Road, just past Flat Swamp Road, at 3:20 pm October 13. The vehicle crossed the center line, struck a guardrail, and traveled down an embankment into the woods. Passarelli said he recalled traveling behind a white truck prior to the incident but had no recollection of how he ended up off-road.

Passarelli was transported to Danbury Hospital by EMS for suspected minor injuries. The vehicle was towed.

At this time, no enforcement was issued due to the circumstances of the incident and the possibility a medical condition contributed.

Hit Guardrail, Utility Pole

Newtown Police report Mona Robison, 76, of Brookfield, operating a 2011 Mazda CX-7, was traveling westbound on Mt Pleasant Road at 1:19 pm October 15. A small animal ran into the roadway and Robison swerved to avoid it, colliding with a guardrail before striking an Eversource utility pole.

No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed.

Robison was issued a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Ram Truck Hits Toyota

Newtown Police report Robert Phelan, 70, of Southbury, operating a 2016 Ram truck, was attempting to part in a lot on Barnabas Road at 3:29 pm October 15. While parking, he hit a 2022 Toyota Corolla owned by Chetankumar Patel of Brookfield, which was parked in an adjacent spot.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

No enforcement action as the incident occurred on private property.

Struck Trailer

Newtown Police report Stephen Morris, 67, of Newtown, operating a GMC Sierra, was traveling westbound on West Street at 5:16 pm October 15. Morris struck a trailer attached to another vehicle owned by Tomofeev Konstantin of Philadelphia, Penn., that was parked on the side of West Street.

No injuries were reported. Morris' vehicle was towed.

Morris was issued a written warning for failure to maintain a lane.

Breach Of Peace Warrant Leads To Weapons Arrest

Newtown Police report that on October 16, officers investigated an incident in which a Newtown resident exhibited threatening and disruptive behavior inside a local business. As a result of the investigation, warrants were issued and served on James McCafferty, 42, of Newtown, who was charged with third-degree criminal trespass, second-degree breach of peace, and threatening two (physical threat). Upon service of the warrant, police additionally seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and explosives. McCafferty was additionally charged with interfering with officers, possession of explosives, and second-degree breach of peace.

McCafferty was processed and released on a $50,000 and $25,000 bond with a court date of October 19 in Danbury Superior Court.

Sideswiped Vehicle

Newtown Police report Anthony Mitchell, 26, of Oakville, operating a 2020 Ford Transit, was traveling westbound on South Main Street at 1:45 pm October 16. Michael Baranov, 43, of Monroe, operating a 2022 Tesla Model Y, had just completed a right-hand turn onto South Main Street and was traveling southbound when he was sideswiped by Mitchell's vehicle. Mitchell told police he had placed his cellular phone on the dashboard and was following GPS navigation to his next job location when the phone fell near the instrument cluster. When he reached to retrieve it, he pulled on the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to jerk left.

No injuries were reported. Neither vehicle was towed.

Mitchell was issued an infraction for operation of a motor vehicle while holding or supporting a mobile electronic device with any part of the body (first offense).

Unreasonable Speed Charge

Newtown Police report Adam Nowak, 50, of Newtown, operating a 2023 Ford F150, was traveling downhill on Orchard Hill Road toward the intersection with Platt Hill Road at 6:47 pm October 16. Nowak said as he approached the stop sign, he applied the brakes and the vehicle began sliding. It slid through the stop sign, crossed Platt Hill Road, went off-road, and then traveled down an embankment.

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

Nowak was issued an infraction for traveling unreasonably fast.

Woman Accused Of Enticing Minor By Computer

Newtown Police report that at 4:16 pm October 17, officers were dispatched to TJ Maxx at 228 South Main Street for the report of a woman attempting to meet with a juvenile under the age of 16 to perform sexual acts.

Brianna Pecoraro, 28, of Waterbury, was taken into custody and charged with risk of injury to a child, harmful communication with a child, and enticing a minor by computer.

Pecoraro was released on a $60,000 bond with a court date of October 27 in Danbury Superior Court.

Collision In Parking Lot

Newtown Police report Michael Custar, 53, of Riverside, operating a 2022 Ford F150, was parked in the commercial parking lot of 4 Primrose Road at 11:22 am October 18. A 2025 Hyundai Elantra owned by Tag Stamford LLC was parked in an adjacent spot. Custar attempted to leave his parking spot and made contact with the other vehicle.

No injuries were reported. The Hyundai Elantra was towed.

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

Unlicensed, Unregistered, Uninsured

Newtown Police report Bruce Saylor, 38, of West Haven, operating a 2011 Acura RDX, was traveling westbound on Berkshire Road at 12:27 pm October 18. Rafael De Oliveira, 36, of Greenwich, operating a 2022 Audi Q3, was standing in westbound traffic on Berkshire Road waiting to make a left turn, yielding to traffic headed eastbound. Loma Szalay, 70, of Sandy Hook, operating a 2019 Subaru Impreza, was traveling behind Saylor. Saylor was navigating a curve in the westbound traffic land and struck De Oliveira's vehicle. Szalay rear-ended Saylor's vehicle following the initial collision.

All operators and passengers were evaluated on scene by Newtown EMS but all declined transport. All three vehicles were towed.

Saylor was issued a misdemeanor summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle without state minimum insurance, misuse of marker plates, and following too close.