Church Hill Crosswalk

Motorist George Smiley. 56, of 8 Rockywood Drive was driving a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee eastward near 29 Church Hill Road about 9:19 pm July 2, when he stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk near Hawley School, police said.

Eastbound motorist Brendan Brooks, 18, of 71 Main Street, who was driving a 2003 Subaru Forester, then struck the Jeep from behind, police report.

There were no injuries. Police issued Brooks a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Sexual Assault

After learning that police held a warrant for her arrest, police said a 13-year-old girl came to the police station on the morning of July 3 and was arrested on charges of first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, police report.

Police received the arrest warrant after submitting an application for it to Danbury Juvenile Court. The arrest followed a police investigation that began in April based on a complaint concerning an incident that occurred in Newtown sometime between July and October 2007, police said in a statement.

The state Department of Children and Families also participated in the investigation.

Following arrest booking, police released the girl to the custody of a guardian for a July 21 appearance in Danbury Juvenile Court. Officer Gladys Pisani investigated the case.

State law shields the identities of people under age 18 who are charged with crimes. Similarly, the court dispositions of their cases are not disclosed.

Middle Gate Mayhem

Sometime between 2:30 pm on June 30, and 6 am on July 1, someone broke the glass housings on seven exterior lights and also broke three windows at Middle Gate School at 7 Cold Spring Road in Botsford, police said.

The crime constitutes first-degree criminal mischief, representing more than $1,500 worth of vandalism damage.

Police are investigating the incident and ask anyone with knowledge of who damaged the public school property to contact them at 426-5841, or at 270-8888.

Drug Charges

Police report that at about 10:43 pm on July 3, they received a report of suspicious activity in the area behind Ricky’s Shopping Center at 71 South Main Street, so they went to the area to investigate.

Police said they had their German shepherd sniff the vehicle of the suspect in the case and the dog located drugs and drug paraphernalia inside that vehicle.

Police said they charged Joshua Philippi, 23, of 42 Swamp Road with possession of heroin, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After arrest processing, police released Philippi on $2,000 bail for a July 22 court appearance.

DUI Incident

Police report that at about 12:11 am on July 4, they received a call from a person near the intersection of Berkshire Road and Checkerberry Lane reporting that a motorist was driving erratically in the area, so police went there to investigate.

Police said they located the vehicle in question and stopped the driver to investigate.

Following field sobriety testing, police charged Chung Me Maher, 49, of 21 Webster Place with driving under the influence. Police released her on $100 bail for a July 17 court appearance.

Rear-Ender

About 9:55 am July 1, James Landman, 59, of Seymour was driving a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier northward on Mile Hill Road South at about 10-to-15 miles per hour with its hazard lights flashing, as he surveyed the condition of telephone lines hung from utility poles alongside the street, police said. The vehicle that Landman was driving is owned by a telephone utility company.

Northbound motorist Irene Eckert, 87, of Nunnawauk Meadows, who was driving a 2004 Toyota Corolla northward, then struck the rear end of the Chevrolet, police said.

There were no injuries. Police issued Eckert a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Honda Hit

A woman who works at a business at Ricky’s Shopping Center at 71 South Main Street parked her 2005 Honda Accord in the parking lot there at about 9 am July 1, and when she returned to the vehicle about 1:15 pm, she found that the Honda’s rear bumper had been damaged, police said. Police are investigating the incident.

Telephone Cable

About 12:30 pm July 1, motorist Donald Murray, 66, of Southbury was driving a 2007 Saturn Aura sedan eastward on Washington Avenue when he encountered a telephone cable that was dangling down to the ground, police said. As the auto moved along the street, the stray telephone cable wrapped itself around the car’s axle, creating a creased dent on the car’s right front fender, police report.

Sandy Hook firefighters went to the scene to remove the telephone cable. Police took no enforcement.

Motorcycle Crash

About 12:09 pm July 2, motorist John Sullivan, 34, of Milford, who was driving a 2003 Honda Civic sedan westward on Berkshire Road, stopped in order to make a left turn onto Jordan Hill Road, according to police.

Westbound motorcyclist James McCafferty, 24, of 30 Honey Lane, who was driving a 1974 Honda motorcycle behind the Honda sedan then attempted to pass the sedan on the left, but collided with it, police said.

Ambulance volunteers treated McCafferty at the scene for a minor arm cut, police said. Sandy Hook firefighters went to the accident. Police issued McCafferty an infraction ticket for improper passing.

Botsford Collision

 A two-car accident took place in the busy intersection of South Main Street, Meadow Brook Road, and Botsford Hill Road about 11:54 am July 2.

Motorist John Cologna, 74, of Trumbull, who was driving a 2006 Ford 500 sedan northward on South Main Street, was attempting to turn left onto westbound Meadow Brook Road, as motorist Neil Johnson, 42, of Monroe was driving a 1999 Saturn SL-2 sedan southward on South Main Street, police said.

The two vehicles collided. Botsford firefighters went to the accident. Police issued Cologna an infraction ticket for making a restricted turn.

Dodge Off Road

Police report that motorist Lisa Britto, 18, of Southbury, who was driving a 1997 Dodge sedan early on the morning of July 4, was traveling eastward on Bear Hills Road, but failed to negotiate a curve in the road at Bear Hills Road’s intersection with Blue Spruce Drive, after which the car traveled off the road and collided with a stone wall and tree at 14 Bear Hills Road.

Police said that when they arrived at the scene, there was no driver inside the auto.

Britto later came to the police station and told police that the auto had hydroplaned as she attempted to make the curve, resulting in the crash. Britto told police that there was a passenger in the auto, but neither she nor the passenger were injured.

Police said they are investigating.

Schoolhouse Hill

Motorist Alyssa Stendahl, 18, of 9 Hanover Road was driving a 2000 Volvo SSE sedan westward near 3 Schoolhouse Hill Road at about 8:50 pm July 6, when a cat ran out onto the street and Stendahl slowed to a avoid a collision, police said.

Two dogs then ran onto the road, after which the car collided with both of them. One dog died and the other dog was injured, police said. Police took no enforcement.

Toddy Hill Road

Motorist Brian Loulis, 33, of Monroe, who was driving a 2001 Kia Rio sedan, exited a driveway at 24 Toddy Hill Road at about 10:40 pm July 3, but struck a trailer that was parked alongside the driveway, police said.

Loulis then drove away from the scene, after which police found him on Toddy Hill Road. Ambulance staffers transported Loulis to Danbury Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries, police said.

The collision is under investigation, police said.

Dodgingtown

About 2:10 pm July 3, a person who was driving a late-model, white pickup truck struck a parked 2002 Nissan Maxima sedan in a commercial parking lot at 57 Dodgingtown Road, damaging the Nissan, police said.

The truck’s driver then drove away. Police are investigating and ask anyone with information on the identity of the truck’s driver to contact Officer John McCluskey at the police station at 426-5841.