Newtown Police Reports: Teen Disturbance, Flag Damage, DUI Cases, Collisions And More

NEWTOWN, CT — Recent police activity in Newtown included DUI charges, a teen disturbance, traffic violations, and several minor crashes, according to local authorities.

Newtown Teen Charged in Disturbance on Arthurs Court

An 18-year-old Newtown resident is facing multiple charges after police responded to a disturbance Thursday night, according to authorities.

Police said officers were called to 5 Arthurs Court around 9:15 p.m. on Aug. 21. Following an on-scene investigation, Augustus Kazamir Spaleta was taken into custody and later charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and violation of a protective order.

Spaleta was scheduled to appear the following morning, Aug. 22, in Danbury Superior Court.

Police Investigating Flag Damage in Sandy Hook

Police are investigating damage to a flag and flagpole reported at a home in Sandy Hook earlier this month.

The homeowner at 265 Berkshire Road told officers on Aug. 5 that the flag, which was attached to a mailbox post, had been ripped down and the pole was bent. Police said the damage occurred sometime between Aug. 2 and Aug. 5.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Benjamin Mulhall of the Newtown Police Department at 203-426-5841.

New York Man Charged With DUI, Drug Offenses in Newtown

Police say a 33-year-old New York man was found unresponsive in a driveway in Newtown and later charged with driving under the influence and drug offenses.

Officers were called to Dylan Drive around 10:15 a.m. on Aug. 20 and found Coty D. Cooper, of Troy, NY, at the scene. Following an investigation, Cooper was charged with operating a motor vehicle 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.

Cooper was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and failure to keep narcotics in the original container, police said.

He was released after posting a portion of a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Sept. 3 in Danbury Superior Court.

Minor Collision Reported on South Main Street

A two-vehicle collision on South Main Street caused minor damage Sunday afternoon, according to local police.

Police said a Subaru Crosstrek, driven by Jean Paul De St. Croix, 76, of New Milford, was stopped at a red light before making a right turn onto South Main Street around 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 10. As the Subaru turned, a Mitsubishi Mirage traveling south on Main Street crossed the double yellow line to avoid contact. During the maneuver, the rear of the Mitsubishi struck the front of the Subaru.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage, and no injuries were reported. Passengers in the Subaru were not hurt, police said.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, identified as Robert M. Boncoddo, 71, of Monroe, also reported no injuries.

Police said De St. Croix was issued an infraction for violating a traffic signal.

Truck Tips After Striking Utility Wires in Newtown

A dump truck tipped onto its side after striking utility wires on Huntingtown Road early Wednesday morning, according to police.

The crash happened around 5:20 a.m. on Aug. 20 when a 2005 Peterbilt truck driven by Michael A. Grubisa, 74, of Botsford, left a driveway at 184 Huntingtown Road with its dump body extended. Police said the raised dump body hit overhead communication wires, pulling the truck left before it tipped against a utility pole.

The driver was not injured. The utility pole sustained minor damage but remained intact, and the wires held in place.

Police said Grubisa was issued a written warning for making a restricted turn.

Minor Crash Reported on Church Hill Road

A two-vehicle collision occurred on Church Hill Road near Main Street on Aug. 19, according to the Newtown Police Department.

Police said both vehicles were headed west on Church Hill Road around 2:20 p.m. when the lead vehicle, a 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata driven by Eileen W. Ratcliffe, 69, of Southbury, stopped in preparation for a right turn. A 2025 Honda CR-V, driven by Shahrukh Akbar Khan, 47, of Sandy Hook, struck the rear corner of the Mazda.

Neither driver nor a passenger in the Honda reported injuries.

Police said Khan was issued an infraction for following too closely.

Two-Vehicle Crash Reported on Main Street

A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Main Street and Hanover Road caused damage but no injuries Wednesday morning, according to police.

Police said a 2009 Subaru Outback driven by Joseph Pedoto, 69, of Stratford, was traveling south on Hanover Road when it entered the northbound lane of Main Street and struck a 2025 Freightliner operated by Ronald Nicholson, 55, of Newtown.

Both drivers reported no injuries, and airbags did not deploy in either vehicle. The Subaru was towed from the scene, while the Freightliner was able to be driven.

Pedoto was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way at an intersection, police said.

Van Crashes Into Signs, Fence on Wasserman Way

NEWTOWN, Conn. — A van struck two state Department of Transportation signs and a fence after leaving the roadway near Berkshire Road and Wasserman Way on Aug. 23, according to police.

Officers said the crash was reported around 4:40 p.m. after the driver appeared to suffer a seizure and went off the road near the Exit 11 commuter lot. The vehicle, a 2017 Ford Transit Connect, traveled over the sidewalk for about 100 feet, hit two DOT signs, returned briefly to the roadway, then veered back onto the grass and into a chain-link fence, police said.

The driver, identified as Matthew Thomas Millard, 33, of New Milford, was evaluated at the scene by Newtown Ambulance and taken to Danbury Hospital with possible injuries.

DOT crews were notified about the damaged signs and fence. The vehicle was towed from the scene, and police said no enforcement action was taken.

Monroe Woman Charged With DUI in Newtown Warrant Case

A 71-year-old Monroe woman was charged with DUI after being detained in Monroe on Aug. 22, according to police.

Police said Rebecca Wood was stopped by Monroe officers on Pepper Street for improper use of a motor vehicle registration plate. Monroe police then contacted Newtown police, who had an active warrant for Wood in connection with a July 1 incident in Newtown.

She was charged with operating a motor vehicle with an elevated blood alcohol content and failure to drive in the proper lane. In Connecticut, the legal blood alcohol content limit for driving is 0.08 percent for those 21 and older:

Wood was later released on bond and is scheduled to appear Sept. 9 in Danbury Superior Court.

Two-Vehicle Collision Reported on Main Street near Glover Avenue

A two-vehicle crash on Main Street near Glover Avenue caused damage but no serious injuries Thursday morning, according to police.

Police said a 2014 GMC driven by Jermaine K. Esprit, 40, of the Bronx, was turning left onto Glover Avenue from Main Street around 8:50 a.m. on Aug. 21 when it struck a 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo driven by Maximus B. Mam, 55, of Naugatuck, which was traveling north on Main Street.

Esprit and his passenger were not hurt. A second passenger reported foot pain from striking the seat but declined medical evaluation, police said. Mam also reported no injuries.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Esprit was issued an infraction for making a restricted turn, according to police.

Bethel Man Charged With Driving Under Suspension in Newtown

A Bethel man was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop on Aug. 19, according to local police.

Police said Jae Won Kim, 37, was stopped around 5 p.m. on Toddy Hill Road near Clearview Drive in Sandy Hook. An investigation determined Kim was operating a vehicle while his license was under suspension.

He was given a court date of Sept. 3 at Danbury Superior Court.

Bethlehem Woman Charged With Driving Under Suspension in Newtown

A Bethlehem woman was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop in Newtown, according to police.

Officers said they stopped a vehicle on Little Brook Lane near Button Shop Road around 5:25 p.m. on Aug. 19. The driver, identified as Melinda Ann Grenier, 47, was found to be operating a vehicle while her license was under suspension.

Grenier is scheduled to appear Sept. 3 at Danbury Superior Court.

Rear-End Collision Reported on South Main Street in Newtown

A two-vehicle crash caused minor damage but no injuries on South Main Street near Mile Hill Road earlier this month, according to police.

Police said a 2014 Hyundai Sonata driven by Ryan Mason, 24, of Naugatuck, was heading south on South Main Street around 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 6 when it struck the rear of a 2019 Toyota Sienna stopped at a traffic signal. The Toyota was operated by Helen Carrie Watson-Cherry, 50, of Naugatuck, and owned by Marrakech, Inc. of Woodbridge.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage, and no occupants were hurt, police said.

Mason was given a verbal warning for failing to maintain a reasonable distance, resulting in a motor vehicle accident.