Police Blotter: Boy, 3, Walks Dog While Mom Sleeps In East Lyme

Police received a call yesterday from a concerned citizen who noticed a very young child wandering alone in the Giants Neck Heights neighborhood in East Lyme. Police arrived to find the child, 3, walking the dog by himself.

The child was not able to tell police where he lived, so officers canvassed the neighborhood, finally locating the child's residence at 56 Oakwood Road, Niantic. The child's mother, Jennifer Rogers, 27, was inside sleeping. Police charged Rogers with risk of injury to a minor child.  

Note Correction: The original version of this story listed the mother's name as Jean Cavanaugh. In fact, Jean Cavanaugh was the arresting officer. Sorry for the confusion. 

Parts Stolen From Parked Vehicle in Old Lyme 

On September 2, Old Lyme Police were called to investigate a report that parts had been stolen from a vehicle that was parked for several hours at the Four Mile River State Boat Launch in Old Lyme. The incident is currently under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to please contact Officer Martin Lane at (860) 434-1986.

Accident Report

Delbert D. Hale, 77, of 43 Chesterfield Road in East Lyme was traveling northbound down Route 1 just north of Flanders Four Corners on September 5 when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the southbound lane, jumped the curb and hit a street sign and two parked cars. 

Hale left the scene and went home, at which point he called East Lyme Police Department to report the accident. He told police he felt "it was not enough of an emergency to call 911." Police issued Hale an infraction for traveling too fast for conditions. There were no injuries.

Arrest Reports: State Police Troop E and East Lyme P.D.

September 4

Andrew Villano, 40, was arrested after East Lyme Police responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at Parkview Drive in East Lyme. (No additional information was provided in the police report.) 

September 5

Mark A. Burdick, 49, of 5 South Pine Street in Niantic was involved in a motor vehicle accident with another vehicle on Route 161. After arriving at the scene, the police officer noticed Burdick appeared to be intoxicated and administered a field sobriety test, which Burdick allegedly failed. Burdick was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Bond was set at $2,500.  

September 6

Jeffrey Dean Wheeler, 23, of 111 Scott Road, East Lyme, turned himself in to State Police Troop E in Montville after learning there was a warrant out for his arrest. Wheeler was charged with failure to appear (2nd). Bond was set at $2,500.

September 8

Sean E. Rolfe of 23 Grassy Hill Road in East Lyme was charged with interfering with a police officer. According to the police report, Officer Cutillo of East Lyme Police Department was at Grassy Hill Road with two male suspects in an evading accident.

As Cutillo was placing one of the men under arrest, Rolfe started walking toward her and refused to follow police orders to stop and take his hands out of his pockets. Instead, he walked back toward the house and when Officer Noah Gouveia, who had been called in for back-up, grabbed his arm he resisted. Bond was set at $1,000.

September 9

Edyinio Anger, 27, of Waterford was traveling southbound on I-95 in East Lyme when he drove off the right side of the road at the merge with 1-395. His car hit a rock wall and then burst into flames. Anger was able to get out without injury but was arrested for driving while intoxicated and for traveling too fast for wet conditions. Bond was set at $500.