Police Blotter: Niantic Prison Assault, Hit and Run, and DUI Checkpoints

East Lyme Police will be assisting the Montville Police Department and Montville State Troop E with more sobriety checkpoints this weekend. Last weekend's checkpoint resulted in a number of DUI arrests by Troop E. Additional patrols and sobriety checks are scheduled for August 31 and September 1.

Hit and Run

Police are also seeking information about a motor vehicle involved in an accident on August 20 on 1-95 Southbound near Exit 75 in East Lyme. According to the police report, a vehicle passed between two vehicles in the center line of both southbound lanes causing damage to one vehicle. 

A witness told police the offending vehicle had three or four young white males inside at the time of the crash. The vehicle is described as a black 4-door with Connecticut license plates, beginning with 777. The last two letters could be AN, or similar.

The victim believes that the evading vehicle may be from the East Lyme area as it had pulled off the highway at exit 74, then got back on when the suspect observed the victim also exiting at exit 74. The crash resulted in no injuries.

Car Break-in in Old Lyme

Police in Old Lyme are investigating a car burglary that occurred on Binney Road in Old Lyme some time between 4:30 p.m. August 21 and 1:30 p.m. August 22. The thief or thieves took a woman's purse containing a wallet with three credit cards, a checkbook, and various forms of identification. The vehicle was unlocked.  

The following arrest information was provided by State Police Troop E and East Lyme Police Department. An arrest does not signify a conviction.

August 20

Alyssa Fearon, 21, an inmate at York Correctional Institution in Niantic, was charged with one count of assault in the second degree, three counts of assault on a corrections officer, and one count of reckless endangerment after she allegedly used a shower curtain rod to assault Department of Corrections Captain Sharon McLauren.

McLauren was taken by East Lyme Ambulance to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital with possible head injuries. Corrections Officers Jimmy Anderson and Russell Hains also sustained injuries while taking control of Fearon. They went to L&M to be treated for shoulder and knee injuries. All were treated and released.

Following her arrest, Fearon was released back to DOC custody and held on a $75,000 bond.  

Cathaleen A. Dahm, 50, of 70 Fairhaven Road, Niantic, charged with larceny in the 6th degree and released on a promise to appear. According to police reports, Dahm was observed loading groceries into Stop and Shop bags without scanning them, then passed through a closed checkout line and out into the parking lot with groceries totalling $186.73. 

August 22

Jesse W. Rando, 24, of 16 Riverdale Landing in Old Lyme was charged with evading and following too close after police say he struck a vehicle in the rear while traveling Southbound on 1-95 in the area of exit 73. Following the accident, the struck car traveled on to the right shoulder where it rolled over before returning to its wheels.

According to the police report, the offending vehicle also went onto the right shoulder but then left the scene. Three passengers in the struck vehicle were taken to L&M Hospital for neck and back pains. The suspect and the vehicle involved in the accident were located at the suspect's residence a short time later, at which point police made an arrest.

August 23

Liam M. Williams, 18, of 7 Larchwood Lane in East Lyme was charged with assault in the third degree. The accused turned himself in on an active warrant without issue. The accused allegedly assaulted another person on or about June 20, 2012, in the town of East Lyme. Bond was set at $500.  

Christopher M. Neal, 19, of 15 Freedom Way, Apt. 108, in Niantic was charged with criminal mischief in the third degree. He was arrested under a warrant for criminal mischief in the third degree for his part in "tagging" private property in East Lyme on or about March 13, 2012.

August 24

Bryan J. Barber, 20, of 94 Giants Neck Road in East Lyme was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, for failing to have headlights on, and for possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana.

Police say they observed the accused driving northbound on the Rocky Neck Connector with only one headlight. Upon approaching the vehicle, police say they noticed a strong odor of marijuana. A K-9 search revealed marijuana inside the vehicle and in the purse of a juvenile who was also in the vehicle. Both were arrested.  

August 28

Jonathan Poulton, 29, of 167 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic, was arrested as a result of an altercation that allegedly took place at his residence. He was charged with disorderly conduct.