The altercation happened in Fairfield County on Monday, Sept. 25 just before 1 p.m., when Connecticut State Police troopers responded to the area of Bigelow Rd. in New Fairfield to assist the town's police department with a shots fired incident.
According to state police, arriving detectives learned that three people had been arrested as a result of the incident. The three suspects were identified as:
- New Fairfield resident Thomas Crapa, age 32;
- New Fairfield resident Jose Sandoval, age 40;
- New Fairfield resident Briana Dean, age 29.
The incident leading to the three arrests began when Sandoval and Crapa both met at an intersection. At this point, Sandoval then left his vehicle and approached Crapa and Dean, his passenger, while carrying a machete, state police said.
Sandoval then returned to his vehicle and intentionally rammed Crapa's car with it, according to authorities. This resulted in Crapa firing a gunshot in Sandoval's direction, causing him to suffer a superficial injury from the bullet fragment.
According to state police, just before the altercation, Sandoval had already been involved in a domestic violence incident with an adult woman at a residence on Cloverleaf Drive.
Following the altercation at the intersection with Crapa, Sandoval was treated and released on scene by New Fairfield EMS. He was later charged in both the domestic violence and road rage incidents. Some of his charges included:
- Third-degree assault of a pregnant person;
- Second-degree assault with a motor vehicle;
- Carrying a dangerous weapon;
- Second-degree breach of peace.
He was held on a combined $275,000 bond.
Crapa was also arrested and charged with second-degree assault with a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, and first-degree assault, among other charges. He was held on a $1 million bond.
Crapa's passenger, Dean, was later arrested after telling troopers that she did not have any weapons or guns concealed on her person or in her purse. A search eventually revealed that she had been carrying two handguns in her purse with high-capacity magazines, police said.
Dean was then taken to Southbury Police headquarters, where officers allegedly found several narcotics and drug paraphernalia on her person. She was later charged with the illegal sale or purchase of a large-capacity magazine, interfering with an officer, and possession of a controlled substance, in addition to other charges.
Dean was held on a $500,000 bond.
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