'Condo Worker' Ran Over Man, Twice, With Car: East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT - East Haven police have arrested a condo maintenance worker who is charged with running over a man with his car after the two got into a confrontation on Saturday, police said.

On Saturday, East Haven police were called to 130 Coe Avenue (Breezewood Condominiums) for a dispute in progress with a report of a pedestrian struck with a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located a man laying in the parking lot who was already being treated for non-life threatening injuries by the East Haven Fire Department, police said. The victim was later transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for further evaluation.

The victim stated to officers that he got into a verbal argument with another resident of the complex, later identified as Gary Gambardella, 61, police said.

He stated that the argument began after he confronted Gambardella, who considers himself the complex’s “de facto” maintenance man, about doing unauthorized maintenance work on the roof, police said. The argument between the two men continued into the parking lot and escalated once Gambardella got into his car, police said.

The victim stated that he was standing behind Gambardella’s vehicle when Gambardella reversed into him, knocking him to the ground, catching him in the undercarriage portion of the vehicle, police said. The victim stated he was dragged briefly by Gambardella who was attempting to leave the parking lot, police said. The victim stated that he managed to free himself and ran back towards Gambardella’s vehicle to try to prevent him from leaving the parking lot, police said.

He stated that Gambardella accelerated towards him and struck him again sending him into the air, causing him to land on his back, police said.

After speaking with several witnesses who confirmed the chain of events that took place, Gary Gambardella, was placed under arrest, police said in a news release.

He is charged with:

• Assault in the First Degree
• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree
• Evading Responsibility (Resulting in Serious Physical Injury

Gambardella was released on a $50,000.00 bond.