Newtown Police Blotter Highlights For March 27 - April 2

NEWTOWN, CT — Fender benders, DUI and an assault on Marlin Road were at the top of the Newtown Police Department's blotter last week.

Two-Vehicle Collision Reported on Church Hill Road in Newtown

A two-vehicle collision occurred Tuesday afternoon on Church Hill Road near Main Street during a period of heavy stop-and-go traffic, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident took place around 3:52 p.m. on April 1, when a 2024 Mazda CX-5, operated by Edward Repking of Newtown, struck the rear of a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Diane Fonck, also of Newtown. Both vehicles were heading westbound toward the intersection with Main Street.

Police said Repking’s vehicle made contact with Fonck’s as traffic approached a stop sign, and the Mazda was determined to be following too closely. There were no reported injuries, and neither vehicle sustained visible damage. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and no airbags deployed.

Repking was issued a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance.

Neither vehicle was towed from the scene.

Police Charge Newtown Man with DUI after "Erratic" Driving on South Main Street

A Newtown man is facing multiple motor vehicle charges following a traffic stop on South Main Street on the night of March 30.

Police said officers were dispatched around 8:50 p.m. for a report of an erratic driver heading north on Route 25. The vehicle, a gray Chevrolet Silverado pickup, was located and stopped. During the investigation, officers determined that the driver, 56-year-old Douglas Mihalko of Butterfield Road, was operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs after he did not successfully complete standardized field sobriety tests.

Mihalko was charged with DUI, failure to drive in the proper lane, and traveling unreasonably fast. He was released after posting 7 percent of his $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on April 8.

Two-Vehicle Collision Reported Near Exit 10 in Newtown

A two-vehicle collision occurred on March 23 around 7:56 p.m. near the I-84 Exit 10 eastbound on-ramp and Church Hill Road, according to police.

Police said a 2021 GMC Terrain operated by Candice Awalt of Newtown was traveling eastbound in the left lane of Church Hill Road when she attempted to make a right turn into a parking lot from the left lane. While crossing into the right lane of eastbound traffic, her vehicle passed in front of a 2011 BMW 335d, driven by Brenden Philip Burr of Bethel, which was traveling in the right lane.

The front right of the BMW struck the rear right of the GMC. Neither driver reported injuries, and no medical transport was required, according to the report. Both vehicles sustained minor damage but were not towed from the scene.

Police issued a verbal warning to Awalt for the improper turn.

Newtown Police Respond to Assault Involving Metal Pole on Marlin Road

A woman is facing a third-degree assault charge following an incident on Marlin Road in Newtown, where a man was struck with a metal pole while walking his dog, according to the Newtown Police Department.

The incident occurred on March 27 around 3:19 p.m., when a 67-year-old man was reportedly walking his son-in-law's dog along the road. A woman later identified as 63-year-old Annamaria Pompa confronted him, claiming he did not live on the street and should not be there. Police said Pompa struck the man in the head and shoulder with a long, thin metal pole and chased him before returning to her residence.

The man sustained minor bruising and scrapes and declined further medical treatment after being evaluated by EMS at the scene.

Pompa was transported to Danbury Hospital on an emergency committal for evaluation. She was later issued a summons to appear in Danbury Superior Court on April 8 on a charge of third-degree assault.

Police Report Two-Car Collision Just Outside a Main Street Parking Lot in Newtown

A two-vehicle collision occurred on March 26 at the intersection of South Main Street and Elm Drive in Newtown, resulting in minor vehicle damage but no injuries, according to local police.

The crash happened around 5:17 p.m. when a 2023 Infiniti QX80, driven by Jennifer Stupka of Newtown, exited a parking lot on South Main Street and struck a northbound 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, operated by Darryl Gregory Baker of Southbury.

Neither driver sustained injuries, and airbags in both vehicles were not deployed. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident. No medical transport was required.

Police issued a verbal warning to Stupka for failure to grant the right-of-way when entering a roadway. Both vehicles were insured and not towed from the scene.

New York Man Charged with Harassment and Violating a Protective Order in Newtown Incident

A Brewster, NY, man was taken into custody on March 26 following a reported violation of a protective order earlier this month, according to Newtown police.

Francisco J. Tineo, 47, faces one count of second-degree harassment and four counts of violating a protective order in connection with an incident reported on March 6 on Valley View Road in Newtown.

Tineo was unable to post a $100,000 bond and was presented for arraignment the same day at Danbury Superior Court.

No injuries were reported in connection with the case.

Driver Cited Following Rear-End Collision on Berkshire Road in Newtown

A Bridgeport man was issued two infractions following a rear-end collision on Berkshire Road near Sherman Street on the morning of March 26, according to Newtown police.

Police said Aleycis Pichardo Garcia was driving a 2018 Ford Transit westbound on Berkshire Road around 9:30 a.m. when his vehicle struck the rear of a 2020 Honda Accord operated by Sydney Altieri of New Milford. Both cars were traveling in the same direction, and the Honda had slowed for traffic when the Ford failed to stop in time, resulting in the crash.

Garcia was cited for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

No serious injuries were reported. Altieri and Garcia were not taken to the hospital. A passenger in Garcia’s vehicle reported a possible injury but declined transport. Garcia’s vehicle was towed from the scene due to damage.