Multiple Charges Filed In Newtown After Crashes And Disturbances

NEWTOWN, CT — Multiple traffic violations, crashes, and court summonses were issued in Newtown over the past two weeks, as police responded to a variety of incidents ranging from hit-and-runs to driving under the influence and domestic disputes.

New York Woman Faces Multiple Charges After Dispute in Newtown

A New York woman is facing multiple charges following a domestic dispute on Great Hill Road that drew a police response on the evening of June 2, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Officers responded to the residence around 5:09 p.m. and identified the individual involved as Samantha Rivera, 26, of Ozone Park. Following an investigation, police issued charges for risk of injury to a child, interfering with an officer, assault on a public safety official, and disorderly conduct.

No injuries or ambulance transports were reported at the scene. Rivera was released after posting 7 percent of a $350 bond and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on June 17.

Three-Vehicle Crash on Church Hill Road Sends Two to Hospital

A three-vehicle crash on Church Hill Road near St. Rose Church resulted in two people being transported to Danbury Hospital and one driver cited for following too closely, according to Newtown police.

The incident occurred around 3:43 p.m. on June 2 as traffic in the area was heavy. Police said a 2012 Honda CR-V, driven by Sherril Harvey Paisley of Newtown, failed to stop behind a 2024 Tesla Model 3 that had come to a halt in the eastbound lane. The Honda struck the rear of the Tesla, pushing it off the road and causing the Honda to overturn into the westbound lane, where it was struck on the passenger side by an oncoming 2017 Subaru Legacy.

The driver of the Tesla, Brandon T. Ballard of Sandy Hook, sustained a possible injury but declined transport. Paisley was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown Ambulance with suspected serious injuries. Arianna Ginette Hanley, the driver of the Subaru, reported no injuries. A passenger in the Tesla, Antonella Maria Carlo, was also transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

A child passenger in the Subaru was evaluated and found uninjured. Police cited Paisley for failure to maintain a reasonable following distance. All three vehicles were towed from the scene.

Driver Cited for DUI After Crashing Into Garage in Sandy Hook

A Sandy Hook woman is facing a DUI charge after crashing a vehicle into her garage on Ardi Court Thursday night, according to Newtown police.

Officers responded around 9:10 p.m. on June 12 following a report of erratic driving involving a silver Kia Forte near Church Hill Road and Washington Avenue. Shortly afterward, police received a report of a crash involving the same vehicle at 12 Ardi Court.

Police said the vehicle struck the garage door at that address and continued into an interior wall connected to a neighboring residence at 10 Ardi Court. No injuries were reported.

The driver, identified as Kristine Alexander, 62, of Sandy Hook, was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In Connecticut, the legal blood alcohol content limit for driving is 0.08 percent for those 21 and older.

Alexander is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on June 26.

Danbury Man Faces DUI Charge After Traffic Stop in Newtown

A Danbury man is facing charges following a traffic stop in Newtown on June 12 after police received a report of an erratic driver on South Main Street.

Officers located the vehicle on Mount Pleasant Road and pulled it over around 10:09 p.m. The driver, identified as Angel David Morocho-Carchi, 30, was cited for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to maintain the proper lane.

Morocho-Carchi was released after posting 7 percent of a $142.85 bond and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on June 26.

Waterbury Man Charged With Unauthorized Use of Vessel in Newtown

A 28-year-old Waterbury man is facing charges in connection with an incident on Main Street involving unauthorized use of a vessel, according to Newtown police.

Devante K. Bernhardt was cited on June 13 for use of a vessel without permission and second-degree criminal trover.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Aug. 6, 2024. Bernhardt was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on June 27.

Rear-End Crash Reported on Hawleyville Road in Newtown

A minor two-vehicle crash occurred on the morning of June 3 along Hawleyville Road near the Interstate 84 westbound on-ramp, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 1999 Advance Mixer truck operated by David Alan McCallister of New Britain struck the rear of a 1993 Mazda Miata driven by Matthew J. Goduti of Newtown. Both vehicles had been traveling southbound when the Mazda stopped to make a left turn onto the highway ramp.

No injuries were reported, and both vehicles were able to leave the scene under their own power. McCallister was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Driver Cited After Vehicle Strikes Fence and Tree in Newtown

A driver was issued a written warning after crashing into fencing and a tree at the intersection of Cherry Street and Riverside Road on the morning of June 1, according to Newtown police.

Police said Dana Schafer, 18, of Trumbull, was traveling eastbound on Riverside Road around 11:02 a.m. and attempted to make a left turn onto Cherry Street. Schafer became distracted and failed to properly navigate the turn, causing the 2025 Nissan Rogue to leave the roadway and strike several sections of fencing and a tree on a nearby property.

No injuries were reported, and the vehicle did not require towing. Schafer was cited for making a restricted turn. The damaged property, including fencing, belongs to a resident on Cherry Street.

No Injuries Reported After Two-Vehicle Crash Near Hawleyville Road in Newtown

A two-car crash near the intersection of Hawleyville Road and Barnabas Road on June 9 resulted in citations for both drivers involved, according to Newtown police.

Police said the incident occurred around 3:01 p.m. when a 2015 Subaru Forester driven by Lauren Emily Jacobs of Newtown attempted to exit a commercial parking lot at 26 Hawleyville Road. Jacobs entered the westbound lane and collided with a 2008 Mazda6 traveling westbound, driven by Daniel Kazimierczak of New Britain.

The front right corner of the Subaru struck the left front corner of the Mazda, police said. Kazimierczak attempted to avoid the crash by turning right but ultimately came to rest against a guardrail on the westbound shoulder. His vehicle was towed from the scene.

No injuries were reported. Jacobs was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way while exiting a private driveway, while Kazimierczak received a written warning for failure to renew his driver’s license.

Newtown Teen Cited for Operating Unregistered, Suspended Vehicle

An 18-year-old Newtown resident is facing motor vehicle charges after police responded to a report of a speeding vehicle at Dickinson Park on June 12.

Police said a caller reported a black Dodge Charger with Massachusetts license plates driving at high speed behind the skate park at 50 Elm Drive around 9:24 a.m. Officers later observed a vehicle matching the description heading southbound on South Main Street and conducted a traffic stop.

The driver, identified as Jaydden Garcia of Fieldstone Drive, was found to be driving with a suspended license and in an unregistered vehicle. He was issued a summons for both infractions and released on a promise to appear in Danbury Superior Court on June 26.

Two-Vehicle Crash Near Berkshire Motors Results in Minor Injury, Infractions

A two-car crash near Berkshire Motors on Berkshire Road led to minor injuries and citations for both drivers involved, according to Newtown police.

The incident occurred around 3:32 p.m. on June 12 during a period of heavy traffic associated with the nearby high school graduation. Police said a 2013 Toyota Prius driven by Fionna Charles of Sandy Hook was traveling southbound on Berkshire Road and attempted to turn left into the Berkshire Motors parking lot. Traffic in the left-turn lane had reportedly stopped to allow the turn.

As Charles turned, her vehicle struck a 2001 BMW 325CI traveling northbound, driven by Sara D. Feica of Fairfield. Feica sustained minor injuries, while Charles was uninjured. Both vehicles were towed from the scene due to moderate damage.

Charles was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn. Feica received a citation for operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Hit-and-Run Reported in Parking Lot on Church Hill Road in Newtown

Police are investigating a hit-and-run that occurred in the parking lot of PJ's Laundromat at 110 Church Hill Road on the afternoon of June 14.

According to the Newtown Police Department, a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe owned by Christopher Evans of Newtown was parked unoccupied in a marked space in the southernmost area of the lot when it was struck by an unknown vehicle. The incident is believed to have occurred between 3:53 p.m. and 8:12 p.m.

The collision caused functional damage to the front left door of the Hyundai. The other vehicle involved left the scene without stopping, and its make, model, and driver remain unidentified.

As the crash took place on private property, no enforcement action was taken at the scene. A criminal investigation is ongoing.

Rear-End Collision Reported on Church Hill Road in Newtown

A rear-end crash occurred on Church Hill Road near Wall Road on the morning of June 13, prompting a traffic citation for one of the drivers involved, according to Newtown police.

Police said the incident took place around 10:50 a.m. when three vehicles were traveling eastbound. The lead vehicle, which was not involved in the collision, stopped abruptly to make a right turn onto Wall Road. The sudden stop forced the trailing vehicles to brake quickly, and a 2013 Toyota Tundra driven by Roberto Carlo Scheneider-Flores of Sandy Hook struck a 2017 Toyota Camry from behind.

The Camry was operated by Sarah D. Cox of Newtown and also occupied by passenger Marie Cavalie. No injuries were reported, and only the Tundra required towing from the scene.

Scheneider-Flores was issued a verbal warning for following too closely.

Norwalk Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Hit-and-Run in Newtown

A Norwalk man is facing several charges after police responded to a three-vehicle crash involving a hit-and-run on June 11 in the area of Button Shop Road and Little Brook Lane.

According to Newtown police, officers arrived at the scene around 2:24 p.m. and located the suspected vehicle nearby at a residence on Button Shop Road. The driver was identified as 44-year-old Clifford Burns of Visconti Street, Norwalk.

Following an investigation, police determined that Burns had been operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. During the encounter, Burns became physically noncompliant, resulting in what police described as an assault on a responding officer.

Burns was cited for operating under the influence, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, improper display of license plates, evading responsibility, interfering with an officer, and assault on a public safety officer.

He posted a 7 percent cash surety bond amounting to $700 and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on June 25. No injuries were reported at the scene of the crash.

Driver Cited After Striking Guardrail on Wasserman Way

A Hartford man was cited after losing control of his vehicle and hitting a guardrail along Wasserman Way on the evening of June 9, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said Milton Rodriguez, 33, was driving a 2005 Dodge Durango eastbound when he lost control and struck a guardrail on the eastbound shoulder, approximately a quarter mile east of Nunnawauk Road.

The vehicle sustained front-end damage and was towed from the scene by AAA to Rodriguez’s residence. No injuries were reported.

Rodriguez was issued a verbal warning for driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

Multi-Vehicle Collision on Main Street Results in Minor Injury

A multi-vehicle crash occurred on Main Street near the intersection with West Street on June 9, leading to minor injuries for one of the drivers involved, according to Newtown police.

Police said a 2013 Cadillac driven by Alexandra Jazlyn Dul of Newtown, was traveling northbound when it attempted to avoid a 2010 Toyota Prius making a left turn from the Cyrenius H. Booth Library driveway onto Main Street. In the process, Dul’s vehicle struck the rear of the parked 2024 Genesis Gv80, which was then pushed into another unoccupied vehicle, a 2023 Lexus NX 350.

Dul reported experiencing head and right wrist pain. Newtown Volunteer EMS responded and treated her at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The driver of the Prius, identified as Oliver Daniel Guzy of Sandy Hook, was issued a written warning for failing to grant the right of way at a private driveway.

Minor Crash Reported During U-Turn on South Main Street

A minor collision occurred during a U-turn maneuver on South Main Street on May 29, resulting in minor damage to both vehicles involved, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said a 2020 GMC Acadia driven by Charles Phillip Hill of Newtown was performing a U-turn in front of a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado belonging to Newtown Garbage Removal, which was stopped at a scale at 199 South Main St. waiting for clearance.

During the turn, the left side of the GMC struck the front bumper of the Silverado. Both drivers, Hill and William Pendergast of Sandy Hook, reported no injuries. Neither vehicle required towing.

Police determined the incident was minor, and no enforcement action was taken.

Parked Vehicle Struck in Hit-and-Run on Clapboard Ridge Road

Newtown police are investigating a hit-and-run crash that damaged a parked vehicle along Clapboard Ridge Road on the evening of June 9.

According to police, a 2022 Genesis owned by Julian Michael Teagarden of Southbury was legally parked on the westbound shoulder of the road near Charter Ridge Drive when it was struck by an unknown vehicle. The Genesis was unoccupied at the time of the incident and had been left in the area for approximately two hours.

The impact caused a crack in the front grille on the left side, along with visible scuffs, scratches, and a small dent above the left headlight. The vehicle did not require towing.

The driver and vehicle responsible for the damage have not been identified. Police said the at-fault operator may face a charge of evading responsibility involving property damage if identified.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Officer John Facto #126 at the Newtown Police Department, 203-426-5841.