Sometimes a simple "joy ride" just isn't a good idea.
Don't believe so? Just ask the 19-year-old Wolcott resident now facing charges for vandalism after police said a joy ride in his former neighborhood late last week left numerous Southington homeowners with significant damage to their yards, mailboxes and garbage cans.
Tyler Carbone was taken into custody after officer caught him driving on a front yard recklessly in the Rolling Hill Lane neighborhood, according to a report from the Southington Police Department.
"Officers responded to reports of unusal activity that included mailboxes being knocked down by a car," Lt. Michael Bairbault said Tuesday. "They arrived and found him driving on the front yard at 110 Rolling Hill Lane."
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Carbone, of 130 East St. in Wolcott, was charged with 11 counts of third-degree criminal mischief, 11 counts of failure to drive to the right, 11 counts of evading responsibility in damage to property, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to sell.
He was released after posting bond, police said, and is due in Bristol Superior Court on March 25.
Police said around 2 a.m. on Thurday, Carbone took his 2000 Chevy Malibu and drove through several neighborhoods in the area of Autran Avenue, West Street and Rolling Hill Lane. He proceeded to use the car to knock over trash cans and mailboxes as well as driving on several lawns.
A concerned resident contacted police about the activity and was able to identify the car and gave police a description. Officers searched the area briefly before finding Carbone still on the "joy ride."
Carbone refused to talk with police following his arrest and was not cooperative, a police report indicated. It was unknown what the motivation was for his activity, Baribault said.
According to court documents, Carbone recently completed accelerated rehabilitation for a shoplifting case back in November 2012. He had reached an agreement related to charges of sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.
He was a resident of 271 Rolling Hill Lane when the 2012 incident occured, court records show.
Baribault said the active response and concerns from residents were crucial in catching Carbone in the act and hopefully preventing him - or others - from vandalizing property in the future.
"Community involvement always helps," Baribault said. "We want the public to know they can reach out and in some cases, it means the difference between a suspect getting away and being caught in the act."
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