Man Fined $460 for Passing Stopped School Bus

A New Canaan man was issued a fine on May 16 for passing a school bus stopped in front of West School on Ponus Ridge Road, police said. 

The incident was captured on video and an investigation revealed the driver was Michael J. Gardner, 50, of New Canaan. The bus driver reported the incident to police, who fined Gardner $460, police said.

Gardner was issued an infraction for one count of passing a stopped school bus, police said. 

"The New Canaan Police Department is committed to ensuring our children are safely transported to and from school. The New Canaan Police Department has zero tolerance for these violations," stated Captain Leon Krolikowski.

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A Norwalk man was arrested for allegedly attempting to hide a bottle of mixed medciations in a public area, police said.

A witness notified police that Murphy W. Pierce, Jr., 62, was allegedly seen placing a pill bottle under a garbage can on South Avenue near Morse Court before driving away, police said.

Police arrived on the scene and found the pill bottle before the same driver described arrived and retrieved the pill bottle, police said. 

Police confronted Pierce, who allegedly stated that he was called back to his job at Hoyt Livery and he didn't want his boss to know he had prescription drugs with him, police said. 

The pill bottle contained cholesterol and diabetes medication as well as three Viocodin and two Valium, police said 

Pierce was released with the promise to show up for his scheduled court date on June 4.

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A Stamford man was arrested on may 24 for allegedly going over twice the speed limit while intoxicated, police said. 

A stationary officer running radar on Ponus Ridge Road when he stopped Daniel E. Carlisle for speeding, police said. 

Upon addressing the Carlisle, the officer reported smelling alcohol and noted that Carlisle had red, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, police said. 

Carlisle failed the field sobriety test and was taken into custody, police said. He is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and unreasonable speed, police said. 

Carlisle posted his $260 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 5. 

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A Stamford man was arrested after police found him intoxicated and asleep on the wheel of his running vehicle, police said. 

Grzegorz Kowalski, 26, was discovered in the Talmadge Hill parking lot after police were alerted by a passerby who thought Kowalski might need medical attention, police said. 

Responding officers detected a strong smell of alcohol coming from Kowalski, who was disoriented, had slurred speech, and bloodshot, glassy eyes, police said. 

Kowalski failed the field sobriety test and was taken into custody. He posted his $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 6, police said.