Police Blotter For Old Lyme, East Lyme—Update on Tuesday's Car Chase and Crash

Connecticut State Police have released additional information on a Tuesday afternoon accident that snarled traffic at the intersection of Route 85 and Route 161 in Chesterfield.

The accident occurred as the driver of a vehicle reported stolen in Old Saybrook was trying to outrun police. Old Lyme Police Department, East Lyme Police Department, and state troopers from State Police Troop F and Troop E had all been involved in the pursuit, which ended in a collision in Chesterfield. 

According to the accident report, the stolen vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Route 85 and Route 161 and collided with the left side of a truck owned by Osterman Propane. The impact caused the propane truck to go off the right shoulder and overturn in an adjacent pond, while the stolen truck came to a rest on a guardrail.

Trooper Tim Bentley from Troop E and East Lyme Police Officer Lindsay Cutillo, who was recently named East Lyme's officer of the year, were credited with pulling the driver of the propane truck from the wreck. The driver, Jeffrey Weed, a 49-year-old Norwich resident, suffered serious injuries and was flown by Life Star to the Hartford Hospital.

Paul F. Deckelman, 31, of 97 Elm Street in Old Saybrook, was detained at the scene and arrested after he was treated for facial injuries at Backus Hospital. Deckelman has been charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree assault, reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, and failure to obey traffic signal. 

The investigation into the crash is continuing, and anyone with information should contact Troop E at 860-848-6506.

Arrest Reports for East Lyme and Old Lyme

June 12

Harold P. Garvin, 61, of 3 West End Drive, Old Lyme, was charged with evading (physical injury or property damage); operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; and failure to drive at a reasonable distance. Bond was set at $500.

According to the police report, Garvin failed to stop following a "rear end" type of collision on 1-95 just before exit 65 in Westbrook. The vehicle was pulled over by exit 70, at which point police say the driver was determined to be driving while intoxicated. 

June 16

Leonardo P. Callata, 38, of 10 Hill View Lane, Clinton, was arrested at Hawks Nest in Old Lyme on an outstanding warrant and charged with evading (serious injury or property damage); unsafe backing; operating a motor vehicle without a license, and using a motor vehicle without the owners permission (fraud). The original incident occurred on December 23, 2012.  

New London/Montville Editor Dirk Langeveld contributed to this report.