News

Warrant: New Canaan Man, 89, Had Near-Empty Bottle of Vodka on Passenger Seat at Time of DUI

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New Canaan Police on March 8 arrested an 89-year-old Oenoke Ridge man by warrant after finding him intoxicated behind the wheel following a crash at nearly 2 a.m.

At about 1:54 a.m. on Nov. 24 (a Monday), police were dispatched to the S-curve on White Oak Shade Road near Putnam Road on a report of a single-car crash, according to the affidavit of Officer Nicholas Falbo, which forms the major part of an arrest warrant application signed Feb. 18 by state Superior Court Judge Bruce Hudock. There, police found a car at rest off the road in a common driveway with multiple airbag deployments and “severe damage” to the vehicle, according to the application. 

Approached by police, the driver and sole occupant of the car said he was OK, Falbo said in the application. Asked where he was coming from, the man “stated he was not sure,” Falbo said.

Animal 411

Report: ‘Mouse Infestation’ at Animal Shelter; No Fire Alarms, Smoke Detectors or Security Cameras at Facility

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There are no fire alarms or smoke detectors in the New Canaan Animal Shelter, which has a mice infestation, documents show. There also are no security cameras at the Animal Shelter, which was shuttered last month following a fire whose cause hasn’t been determined, according to a fire investigator’s report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. 

Located in a former incinerator building at the Lakeview Avenue Transfer Station, a complex informally known as “the dump,” the Animal Shelter has been offline since a fire that was discovered at about 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 20. There were no animals in the building at the time and no one was injured. The shelter itself has had several ongoing problems, according to information contained in an incident report filed by Assistant Chief Russ Kimes, who was tapped by the Fire Department to conduct an investigation. 

Used primarily to house dumped, lost or abused dogs and cats, the shelter “does not have a monitored fire alarm system, and also does not have any local smoke detectors,” Kimes said in the report.

News

Man, 28, Charged in Road Rage Incident

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Police on Sunday arrested a 28-year-old East Elmhurst, N.Y. man and charged him with second-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace. At about 10:03 a.m. on March 12, officers were dispatched to the Weed and Elm Streets on a report of a road rage incident, police said. The complainant told authorities that the suspect had damaged his driver’s-side mirror and drove away, according to a police report. Through an investigation, police determined that the Queens, N.Y. man was the suspect and, when interviewed, he admitted to damaging the victim’s vehicle, the report said. He was released after promising to appear March 26 in state Superior Court on the misdemeanor charges.

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NCPD

Warrant: Local Business Overcharged for Towing, Storage

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New Canaan Police on March 3 arrested a 72-year-old Stamford man by warrant following accusations that his business charged excessive rates for the “nonconsensual” towing and storage of motor vehicles, for example, following car crashes. Under state law, the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles establishes rates for “nonconsensual” towing (mileage and drop fees) and storage. Towing rates vary based on the vehicle’s weight. Storage rates vary depending on the size of the vehicle and whether it’s kept inside or outside and, if outside, whether the lot is secure and lighted. 

According to an affidavit from New Canaan Police Officer Owen Ochs that forms the major part of an arrest warrant application signed last month by a state Superior Court judge, local authorities were alerted last November by Norwalk police that a local auto body business had been “violating various wrecker/tow laws in regards to towing storage rates in instances stemming from police tows occurring in Norwalk, Wilton, and possibly New Canaan.”

Capt. Joseph Farenga assigned Ochs an investigation into tows requested by NCPD to find out whether any such laws were violated, Ochs said in the arrest warrant application. 

Norwalk police had launched an investigation following complaints lodged in 2023 from people “who had their vehicles towed by Norwalk PD for various reasons (collisions, motor vehicle law violations, etc.) and that the rates [the business] charged the driver and/or owner of the vehicle in question was excessive by law,” the arrest warrant application said. Norwalk police charged the business owner with 14 counts of violation of towing rates, a misdemeanor offense and the man “was found guilty of all counts by a magistrate” in November 2024, the police affidavit said.

News

Assault, Risk of Injury Charges for New Canaan Woman, 24

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Police last week arrested a 24-year-old New Canaan woman and charged her with risk of injury to a child and second-degree assault, both felony offenses. At about 1:36 p.m. on March 12, officers were dispatched to a Millport Avenue home on a report of an assault by the woman on the victim, police said. Through an investigation, authorities established probable cause for the felony charges as well as disorderly conduct. It isn’t clear how the woman assaulted the victim or whether they’re related. Police withheld details.