Hit-and-Run, Burglary, Larceny, Garbage Truck Vs. Passenger Vehicle, Disorderly Conduct, Assault and MVA's through 1-18-15

The East Haddam Police and the Connecticut State Police, Troop K in Colchester report the following incidents:

GARBAGE TRUCK VS. PASSENGER VEHICLE - On Jan. 7 at approximately 12:40 p.m., Ronald Benziger, 50, of Main Street, Willimantic was operating a 1999 Freightliner FL-60 garbage/recycling truck, when he stopped along the roadway to back into a private driveway. Deanna Page-Donovan, 46, of West Road, Salem had stopped behind the truck, in a 2004 Volvo V-70. Police said that Benziger subsequently backed into Page-Donovan's vehicle, causing front-end damage. Benziger was issued an infraction for Unsafe Backing. No injuries were reported.

BURGLARY AND LARCENY - On Jan. 8 at approximately 3:35 p.m., East Haddam Police received a complaint from a Lake Hayward Town Road resident. Unknown person(s) had entered a garage and taken car stereo speakers and other miscellaneous items. Anyone who has information that could help police with this investigation is asked to contact Corporal Karl Karabienikoff at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office, at 860-891-8201.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may leave a voice-mail on the (confidential) Crime Tip Line at 860-873-5013.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. UTILITY POLE - On Jan.10 at approximately 7:17 p.m., Michael Cummings, 29, of Leesville Road, Moodus was traveling northbound on Route 149 in Moodus, operating a 1997 Ford Taurus. Police said that Cummings drove off the right side of the roadway, just prior to Eli Chapman Road, striking a utility pole with the front end of his vehicle. The airbags deployed on the vehicle and it had to be towed from the scene due to damages sustained as a result of the accident. Cummings was issued an infraction for Making an Improper Turn. No injuries were reported.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND ASSAULT - On Jan.11 at approximately 5:00 a.m., State Police responded to a home on Wildwood Road in East Haddam, for a report of a boyfriend-girlfriend dispute. After investigating, police arrested David Sweet, 43, of Wildwood Road and charged him with Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Assault. Sweet was transported to Troop K, processed and held on a $1,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 1/12/15.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. DEER AND UTILITY POLE - On Jan. 12 at approximately 12:35 a.m., Max Schechter, 23, of Sanford's Bridge Road, East Haddam was traveling eastbound on Clark Hill Road in East Haddam, operating a 2008 Honda Accord. Police said that Schechter veered left and entered the westbound lane to avoid striking a deer, continued in a northerly direction and collided with a utility pole. No injuries were reported.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE - On Jan. 12 at approximately 12:25 p.m., Kevin Hinton, 27, of Boulder Road, Colchester was traveling westbound on Beebe Road in East Haddam, driving a 2001 Toyota Tundra. As Hinton was reportedly trying to negotiate a slight curve in the road, he lost control of the vehicle and collided head-on into a tree, causing minor damage to the front end of his vehicle. Police said that road conditions were icy at the time. Hinton was transported to the Marlborough Emergency Clinic for evaluation as a precautionary measure. He was released later that day.

MAKING AN IMPROPER TURN - On Jan. 13 at approximately 2:08 p.m., Jessica Castro, 25, of Alger Road, East Haddam was traveling northbound on Route 151 (Town Street) in Moodus, operating a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. A 17-year-old driver, operating a 2001 Ford Mustang, was stopped at the end of School Drive, waiting to turn right onto Town Street. Police said that the 17-year-old pulled out in front of Castro's vehicle, and she was unable to stop before making contact with the juvenile's vehicle. Castro was transported to the Marlborough Emergency Clinic for precautionary evaluation. Police issued the 17-year-old a verbal warning for Making an Improper Turn.

LARCENY - On Jan. 16 at approximately 10:19 a.m., Daniel O'Mara, 25, of Berry Road, East Haddam was arrested and charged with 6th-Degree Larceny, based on an active warrant. He was processed without incident and appeared to face the charge on the same day at Middletown Superior Court.

HIT-AND-RUN - On Jan. 17 at approximately 5:13 p.m., State Police were dispatched to the Town Tavern on Town Street in East Haddam, to investigate a complaint of damage to a motor-vehicle. The victim's vehicle was a tan, 2010 Toyota Rav-4 and was left parked in the parking lot between the hours of 3:45 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Police said that the evading vehicle left a white paint transfer on the victim's vehicle, and had caused damage to the driver's side door. Anyone with possible information is asked to contact Trooper Christopher Pariseau at the Connecticut State Police, Troop K at 860-465-5400. Please reference Case # 1500-033358.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE - On Jan. 18 at approximately 6:54 p.m., Kerri Ann St. Denis, 20, of Forest Drive, Uncasville was traveling southbound on Falls-Bashan Road in Moodus, in the area of Falls Road (Route 149) operating a 2005 Hyundai Accent. Police said that St. Denis drove off of the travel portion of the roadway and collided with a large tree. No injuries were reported, but the vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

An arrest or infraction does not indicate a conviction, and all individuals listed in these reports are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Stolen Animal Traps, DUI's, Harassment, Falsely Reporting an Incident, Assault, Evading the Scene of an Accident, Disorderly Conduct and MVA's through 12-31-14

The East Haddam Police and the Connecticut State Police, Troop K in Colchester report the following incidents:

FAILURE TO DRIVE A REASONABLE DISTANCE APART - On Dec. 6 at approximately 12:05 p.m., Lauren St. Onge, 25, of Maple Ridge Drive, Waterbury was traveling along Route 151 (Town Street) in Moodus, operating a 2014 Subaru Outback. Police said that as St. Onge stopped to make a left turn onto School Drive, her vehicle was struck from behind by Craig Sobolewski, 28, of Timber Trail, Cobalt, who was driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. No injuries were reported, but police issued Sobolewski an infraction for Failure to Drive a Reasonable Distance Apart.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. STONE PILLAR - On Dec. 8 at approximately 9:24 a.m., Edna Balane, 60, of Moodus was traveling along Town Street, East Haddam in the area of Route 82, operating a 2004 GMC Envoy. Police said that Balane lost control of her vehicle on a patch of ice, exited the roadway and struck a stone pillar located in a private parking lot. No injuries were reported.

MOTOR-VEHICLE ROLLOVER - On Dec. 8 at approximately 10:26 a.m., Mary DiCristofaro, 22, of East Haddam was traveling southbound on Route 149, just prior to Johnsonville Road in East Haddam, driving a 1998 Jeep LRT. Police said that DiCristofaro lost control of her vehicle after crossing an extended area of ice that was coating the roadway, struck some guardrails on the southbound side of the road and rolled the vehicle over onto its side. DiCristofaro reportedly sustained some minor injuries, and the accident is under investigation.

MOTOR-VEHICLE VS. TREE AND ROCK WALL - On Dec. 9 at approximately 9:45 a.m., East Haddam Police were dispatched to Lake Hayward Road in East Haddam for the report of a vehicle that had impacted a tree and then a rock wall. While en route, police were informed that the vehicle had left the scene and was then parked at a private residence on Haywardville Road. Further investigation revealed that Janet Michnowicz, 54, of Haywardville Road was the driver of the 2008 Toyota RAV-4 that had been involved in the earlier accident, and was subsequently parked and located at her home address. No injuries were reported, but police issued Michnowicz a Misdemeanor Summons  for (2) counts of Making an Improper Turn and Evading the Scene of an Accident.

STOLEN ANIMAL TRAPS - On Dec. 9 at approximately 11:33 a.m., East Haddam Police received a complaint from a Powerhouse Road, Moodus resident regarding the theft of some Havahart traps that had been stolen from their property. The traps were being used to capture & relocate some feral cats in the area, with the aid of an animal rescue organization. The case is under investigation, and anyone who may have any information that could help police is asked to contact Corporal Karl Karabeinikoff at the East Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-891-8201. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you may leave a voice mail on the (confidential) Crime Tip Line at 860-873-5013.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND ASSAULT - On Dec.15 at approximately 5:00 p.m., Richard Glennon, 53, of Mill Road, East Haddam was arrested, pursuant to an outstanding warrant and charged with Disorderly Conduct and 2nd-Degree Assault. Glennon was later released on a $5,000 bond and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 12/16/14.

SPEEDING, FAILURE TO DRIVE UPON THE RIGHT AND DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS - On Dec. 20 at approximately 1:32 a.m., State Police initiated a motor-vehicle stop on Route 149 in East Haddam. A subsequent investigation developed probable cause that the operator, Justin DiGianni, 29, of Valley Road, Clinton was operating under the influence. DiGianni was arrested and charged with the above violations. He was released on a $500 bond and given a court date of 1/5/15 at Middletown Superior Court.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS, EVADING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT AND MAKING AN IMPROPER OR RESTRICTED TURN - On Dec. 21 at approximately 5:46 p.m., a one-car motor-vehicle accident was reported on Falls Road, Moodus in the area of Andrews Road. The operator of the vehicle initially fled the scene, but was located shortly thereafter. George Neudecker, 51, of Moodus reportedly failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and was taken into custody without incident. He was processed at Troop K, released on a $750 bond and scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on 1/12/15 to face the above charges.

HARASSMENT AND FALSELY REPORTING AN INCIDENT - On Dec. 30, an outstanding warrant was served for Stephanie Maciver, 34, of East Main Street, Central Village while at court in Middletown. The warrant had originally been issued in 2006 for (7) counts of 2nd-Degree Harassment and (7) counts of Falsely Reporting an Incident to the Department of Children & Families. Maciver was held on a $500 bond and appeared to face these charges on the same day at Middletown Superior Court.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS AND IMPROPER PARKING - On Dec. 30 at approximately 10:50 p.m., Robert Craig, Jr., 53, of Town Farm Road, East Haddam was arrested and charged with the above violations. Craig was later released on a $500 bond and given a court date of 1/14/15 at Middletown Superior Court.

An arrest or infraction does not indicate a conviction, and all individuals listed in these reports are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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