Assault, Fraud and Underage Drinking

The following information was supplied by the Monroe Police Department. No arrested person is guilty until so judged in a court of law.

Underage Drinking

Police broke up a party with underage drinking at a house on Teller Road late Saturday night.

Officers responding to a complaint of a loud party with underage drinking at 11:45 p.m. saw vehicles parked along Jenny Ridge Road and close to 20 youths standing in the street. Police said the youths ran when they saw the police car, but one who was stopped told the officers that the party was on Teller Road.

In back of the house on Teller Road, police said at least two people among the 25 to 50 youths were involved in a fight. Some ran away at the sight of the officers.

The homeowner, Patricia Harrigan, 51, told officers there was a graduation party and relatives had left earlier, police said, adding alcohol in plain view on the deck was seized.

Officers were able to identify kids at the party — all under 18 — and called their parents, while some stayed at the house overnight, according to the report.

Harrigan was cited for permitting a minor to possess alcohol and failure to halt possession of alcohol by a minor.

Man Charged with Assault

A 21-year-old woman came to police headquarters on Friday to report that her boyfriend had assaulted her and an ensuing investigation led to the arrest of Michael Szabo, 20, of Blue Hills Road.

Szabo was charged with third-degree assault, strangulation and unlawful restraint. Bond was set at $75,000, but then on Monday a judge reduced it to a promise to appear in court.

The victim told police that she and Szabo had recently broken up and had gotten back together again. She went to his house on Friday and told him that she had been seeing someone while they were apart and Szabo became extremely agitated, according to the report.

Szabo allegedly took his girlfriend's head and pushed it toward his crotch, police said, adding that when she began to yell, he put a blanket over her head to quiet her.

When Szabo realized he was hurting her, police said he let the woman go, but that when she tried to run out of the room, he allegedly grabbed her, threw her to the floor, then into a wall.

The young woman broke free again and ran to Szabo's brother's room where police said Szabo allegedly pushed her down again, injuring her elbow. Then he allegedly hit her with the door as she tried to get out.

During the argument in Szabo's room, police said Szabo allegedly tore off the victim's shorts and panties. She eventually left the house wearing a pair of Szabo's shorts, according to the report.

Police said Szabo was later arrested at work and that a search warrant was obtained to gather evidence from his house.

Police also said that Szabo's story was similar to his girlfriend's version, but that he said they laid on his bed and talked for 15 minutes afterward and he gave her a pair of his shorts before going to work.

The woman's injuries were photographed and Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated her before she went to St. Vincent's Medical Center for x-rays, police said.

Warrant Arrest

New Haven police arrested Gregory Scott Walker, 47, on a Monroe warrant at around 8:57 Friday night. He was charged with breach of peace for an incident that took place earlier in the year, police said. Bond was set at $500 for an Aug. 10 court date.

Credit Card Fraud

A Wheeler Road woman looked at her People's United Bank checking account online and discovered that someone had fraudulently opened a PayPal account in her name and used it for purchases of $32, $6.99 and $6, according to a police report filed on Saturday.

Sgt. Pete Howard said identity thieves often make "test purchases" in small amounts after opening a fraudulent account to make sure it works before using it for bigger purchases.

The victim is working with her bank and checking her credit reports, police said.

Domestic Disturbance

A Wildwood Lane man was arrested for allegedly causing a domestic disturbance at his mother's house at around 10 o'clock on Saturday night.

Police said Hugh R. McAfee, 40, of Wildwood Lane came home intoxicated and went on to break things in the kitchen, smashing glass figurines and breaking chairs. When his uncle told him to stop, he allegedly refused so he was removed from the house.

Then police said McAfee ran back into the house and continued to damage his mother's property. When officers arrived on the scene, McAfee said, "I did it. I messed up the house," according to the report.

Police said McAfee admitted to having smoked crack-cocaine earlier in the day.

McAfee was evaluated at the hospital and released back to police custody where he was charged with disorderly conduct and second-degree criminal mischief. Bond was set at $5,000 and McAfee went to court on Monday morning, police said.

Stolen Cell Phone

A woman told police Saturday that someone stole her 12-year-old son's $75 Motorola Droid after he had left it on his backpack while doing activities at the Chalk Hill summer camp program.

Lost & Found

A pink, female Mongoose bicycle was found on a section of Rails to Trails at 1:41 p.m. Saturday.

In a separate incident, a Crossman bb-gun was found in the road at the intersection of William Henry Drive and Walnut Street on Friday night.

Anyone who lost these items should call the Monroe Police Department at (203) 261-3622.

A Toilet Bowl Too

An employee of Aeon Physical Therapy told police Friday that someone had dumped construction debris on the 238 Monroe Turnpike property, including wood — possibly from a house, shingles, a garbage bag full of twigs and a toilet bowl.