Bomb Scares, Breach of Peace, Reckless Driving, Criminal Impersonation and Interfering with Police

The Haddam Resident Troopers' Office and the Connecticut State Police, Troop F in Westbrook report the following incidents:

FAILURE TO DRIVE A REASONABLE DISTANCE APART - On March 13th at approximately 3:59 p.m., Joseph Shuckerow, 49, of Morris Road, Higganum was traveling southbound on Route 81 in Haddam, driving a 2002 Ford E-150. As Shuckerow was attempting to turn onto Ponsett Road, he was struck from behind by a 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser being operated by Carla Pitarra, 45, of Williams Lane, Clinton. No damages were reported, but police issued Pitarra a written warning for following another vehicle too closely.

ROADSIDE PIPE-BOMB DISCOVERY - On March 15th at approximately 10:30 a.m., town road-crew employees were in process of cleaning out the catch basins along Beaver Meadow Road in Haddam, when they discovered a suspicious item that was confirmed to be a pipe-bomb. State Troopers, Haddam Fire Company and the Connecticut State Police Emergency Services Unit responded to the scene and disposed of the bomb. Bomb-sniffing K-9's were deployed along the road for a thorough search of the area. No other bombs were found.

BOMB THREAT POSTED AT HIGH SCHOOL - On March 15th at approximately 12:15 p.m., school officials reported the presence of handwritten threat on the wall of one of the student bathrooms at Haddam-Killingworth High School on Little City Road in Higganum, indicating the presence of a bomb in the building. Students and faculty were evacuated and the school was searched, but no evidence of a bomb was found.

Anyone with possible information that could help police with the investigations of either the pipe-bomb or bomb threat incidents are asked to contact Haddam Resident Troopers Enrico Milardo or James Connelly at the Haddam Resident Troopers' Office at 860-345-2769, or the Connecticut State Police, Troop F at 860-399-2100.

METAL PIPE-CANON EXPLOSION - On March 18th at approximately 3:29 p.m., police were dispatched to a Grapevine Road, Higganum residence. David Reise, 51, had sustained severe, non-life-threatening injuries to his face and torso, after his home-made black powder metal pipe canon accidentally discharged. Reiss was transported to Middlesex Memorial Hospital in Middletown by family members, and later transferred to Hartford Hospital via ambulance for treatment of his injuries. The incident remains under investigation.

BREACH OF PEACE, INTERFERING WITH POLICE AND THIRD-DEGREE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - On March 18th at 9:43 p.m., William Baroni, 42, of 15 Killingworth Road, Haddam was arrested and charged with the above violations, after causing a disturbance at his home address. Police said he had been banging on a neighboring apartment's door, subsequently causing damage, and had also been reportedly yelling obscenities. Baroni was held on a $2,500 bond and presented at Middlesex Superior Court in Middletown on 3/19/12.

RECKLESS DRIVING, OPERATING A MOTOR-VEHICLE WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE, CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION AND INTERFERING WITH POLICE - On March 19th at approximately 1:51 a.m., Chaz Robert Wright, 25, of 69 Handy Road, Hamden was traveling southbound on Route 9 in Haddam. Police said that they had clocked him on radar at 92 mph in a posted 65 mph zone. Wright was taken into custody, transported to Troop F and charged with the above violations. Police said that Wright had been unable to produce a valid form of ID, and had also initially provided a false name in an attempt to avoid possible jail time. Wright was later released on a $1,000 bond and given a court date of 4/2/12 at Middlesex Superior Court in Middletown.