Police: Woman Charged With DUI Following Crash on Higganum Road

Monday, Jan. 16

Michael Mangini-finn, 21, of Middletown, was issued an infraction for illegally passing another vehicle on Route 157 in Middlefield. According to police, Mangini-finn was traveling southbound on Rt. 157 in a 1998 Honda Civic around 9:55 a.m. when he tried passing another vehicle but lost control and rolled over numerous times. No injuries were reported.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Benjamin Leavitt, 31, of Powder Hill Road, Middlefield, was arrested and charged by Middletown Police with use of drug paraphernalia and cited for possession of less than one-half ounce of cannabis. According to police, Leavitt was the front passenger in a vehicle driving on Lincoln Street down the middle of the road that rolled through the stop sign and onto Pearl Street. The incident happened around 8 p.m. Once stopped, two of the three passengers in the vehicle appeared as if they were hiding something, police say. Officers found a burnt spoon and two capped needles in a sunglasses case in Leavitt’s pocket, a straw and some burnt marijuana (.1 gram) in a pipe, according to police. Leavitt had multiple narcotics charges from California on his record, police say.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Sara Raffles, 29, of Higganum, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. According to police, Raffles was traveling west on Higganum Road in Durham around 3:42 p.m, when she crossed over the center line and collided with another vehicle. Raffles was taken to the hospital for evaluation. No other injuries were reported.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Daryl DiStefano, 22, of Quarry Hill Road, Killingworth, turned himself in to Middletown Police on an outstanding warrant. He was subsequently charged with third degree assault, third degree strangulation and disorderly conduct.

Information for this report was provided by Middletown Patch editor Cassandra Day.