Police Blotter: Family Fights and Drunk Drivers

Alleged Drunk Driver Weaves Along Smith Ridge:

A motorist reported seeing someone driving erratically along Smith Ridge Road near the New York border headed into New Canaan. An officer found a vehicle matching the description near Canoe Hill and stopped Teresa J. Vanderheyden near Glen Drive after reportedly observing her cross the double yellow line and then cross all the way back over the white line on the right shoulder. The 54-year-old New Canaan resident was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and failure to drive right. She did not post the $250 bond and appeared in court Monday, April 5.

Alleged Drunk Driver Caught Snoozing:

An officer on patrol noticed a car off the road on Ponus Ridge near Clearview Lane with someone in the driver's seat around 12:30 a.m. Friday, April 2. Anthony R. Gracia, 52, of Brookfield, was reportedly sleeping behind the wheel with the engine off, but with the key turned to the on position in the ignition. The officer reportedly smelled the odor of alcohol as soon as Gracia woke up and rolled down the window. He was charged with operating under the influence and released after posting $250 bond. He is due in court April 12.

Feuding Husband and Wife Arrested:

At 1:53 a.m. Sunday, April 4, police arrived at Eric J. and Lori Kalnasky's house where the couple had allegedly been arguing. Police arrested and charged Lori Kalnasky with disorderly conduct for allegedly throwing things. She was released on a promise to appear in court. Eric Kalnasky was also arrested for allegedly violating a protective order dating back to September 2009. He was released on $2,500 bond.

Teen Arrested in Family Dispute:

Police responded to an abandoned 911 call at 5:55 p.m. Friday, April 2, from a house where a heated argument between a father and son had gotten physical. When officers arrived, they reportedly found that 19-year-old James S. Langseder had disconnected the phone lines before taking off into the woods. The teenager was apprehended and subsequently charged with interfering with a 911 call, interfering with an officer for allegedly being uncooperative with police, and 3rd degree assault for allegedly pushing and hitting his father, who suffered minor bruises on his hand. He posted $5,000 bond and is due in court Monday, April 5.

Graffiti Reported at NCHS:

Principal Tony Pavia reported to police on Tuesday, March 30, that someone had spray-painted the words, "Stop Obama" on the exterior of the high school on the south end facing the football field. The vandalism is suspected to have taken place sometime between March 13 and March 18, when the school was closed due to a storm-related power outage.

Nazi Graffiti?:

A officer on patrol reported at 1:37 a.m. Saturday, April 3, that someone had used green paint to draw a swastika on a stop sign at the intersection of Talmage Hill Road and South Avenue.

Theft from Locked Lockers at the YMCA:

An 85-year-old New Canaan resident reported at 2:26 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, that $460 in cash had been taken from his wallet while he thought it was safely locked in the men's locker room at the YMCA between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The man said that the combination lock was secured as he had left it when he returned to retrieve his belongings.

On April 3, a 69-year-old New Canaanite reported that he suspected his credit card was stolen from his wallet while it was locked in the men's locker room on Tuesday, March 30, between 1:40 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. The card was used in Norwalk the same day, so police are hopeful they will be able to identify the thief.

Camera, Sunglasses Missing After Visit from Uninvited Guests:

A 51-year-old resident of Richard's Lane reported at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, April 4, that his Canon EOAS 40-D SLR digital camera valued at $1,400 and a pair of sunglasses belonging to one of his daughter's friends had apparently been stolen the night before. The complainant had gone out for dinner Saturday night while his 17-year-old daughter had some friends over. According to the daughter, shortly after her parents left, at least six uninvited guests showed up and were asked to lave, which they did. But when the father returned home around 10:30 p.m. the items were missing.

Equipment Stolen from House Under Construction:

A contractor working on a house on Dabney Road reported to police Wednesday, March 31, that a Dewalt industrial compressor and a Micasa vibrating compactor—each worth approximately $1,500—had been stolen from the basement. Apparently the thief had clipped a cable lock wrapped around the equipment.

Alleged Credit Card Thief Charged:

Inga Padilo, 21, of Brooklyn, NY is accused of stealing and making purchases with credit cards belonging to two separate victims in New Canaan in May 2008. Padilo is suspected of working with accomplices who allegedly distracted store employees while she snatched the cards from back rooms.

New Canaan Police caught up with Padilo on April 1 at Bedford HIlls Correctional Facility in Bedford Hills, NY where she has been incarcerated on other charges. Padilo was transported back to New Canaan where she was then charged with one count of credit card theft, illegal use of a credit card, and 6th degree larceny in each of the two cases.

Suspect in '07 Bad Check Case Charged with Failure to Appear:

Sherry L. Cheetham, 41, of Ridgefield, turned herself in at New Canaan Police headquarters Thursday, April 1, and was charged with failure to appear in the 2nd degree. She posted $2,500 bond and is due back in court April 14.

Cheetham was originally charged in December 2009 for allegedly issuing a bad check to Design Solutions for $101.76 back in the spring of 2007. She failed to appear in court on that charge March 17 of this year.