MONROE, CT — A Waterbury man was charged with DUI and risk of injury to a minor after police responded to a complaint of an erratic driver heading north on Route 25 early in the morning on July 5.
Luis Fajardo, 29, of Irvington Ave., was also charged with operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs with a child under 18 in the vehicle, operating a vehicle under suspension, operating a vehicle without insurance and misuse of plates.
He was released on a total bond of $1,000 for a July 15 court date.
At approximately 12:37 a.m. on July 5, police received a call about a driver in blue Honda Civic, who allegedly could not maintain his lane as he headed north on Main Street.
The Honda turned into a parking lot in the 150-block of Route 25 and officers found it parked with the engine running. The driver, Fajardo, was fully reclined in his seat and a nine-year-old boy was sitting in the back seat, police said.
Police said officers smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage and Fajardo admitted to drinking one beer. But field sobriety tests determined he was under the influence, according to the report.
Police: Driver nearly hit officer’s car
A Bridgeport driver was charged with DUI after allegedly crossing over the center line and nearly hitting a police cruiser coming from the opposite direction, as he headed north on Monroe Turnpike on July 4.
Erick Angus, 32, of Funston Ave., was also charged with failure to maintain the proper lane. He was released on $500 bond for a July 13 court date.
At around 4:24 a.m., a police officer was driving south on Monroe Turnpike when a gray Nissan Altima crossed over from the north lane, nearly hitting his cruiser, according to the report. Police said the officer had to swerve to his right to avoid a collision.
The officer turned around and followed the Nissan. The officer saw it cross over the double yellow center line again, before the driver turned back into his own lane, over-correcting and almost striking the curb, police said.
The officer stopped the vehicle and the driver, Angus, failed field sobriety tests, police said.
Window smashed, purse stolen
A woman reported a theft from her Hyundai Elantra when it was parked at Wolfe Park Wednesday evening.
While the victim was using the pool, police said someone smashed a window of her vehicle and stole her purse. The incident occurred sometime between 5 and 7:50 p.m.
The value of the purse and its contents is estimated at $1,500, police said.
West Haven man arrested on warrant
A West Haven man was served a warrant at court in Bridgeport Tuesday, charging him for an incident reported in Monroe on May 31.
Mario Rector Simmons Jr., 39, of Lamson St., who was already at court on unrelated charges, was charged with criminal liability for the acts of another and sixth-degree larceny.
On May 31, Simmons was with a woman, who allegedly stole $25 worth of snacks from Chestnut Market on Main Street. After paying for gas, police said Simmons pulled up to the door so the woman could leave the store quickly.
Scrap metal theft
Scrap metal was reported stolen from a residential property on Moose Hill Road Wednesday. The theft occurred sometime over the past two weeks and the incident was caught on camera, according to police.
Police said the scrap metal, valued at approximately $120, was most likely taken for the copper.
Catalytic converter stolen
A customer rented a U-Haul from Jensen Tire & Auto on Route 34 last Friday. When he returned the truck, he mentioned that exhaust was loud. That’s when the owner discovered the catalytic converter was missing, according to police.
Police said someone cut out the catalytic converter, most likely to sell the copper as scrap metal.
The theft is under investigation.
