FAMILY MEMBER OF SEN. OSTEN FACES ASSAULT CHARGES

Colchester

Rebecca Jones, 21, of 17 Nemczuk Drive, Norwich, was charged May 13 in Colchester with illegal possession of a narcotic, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of narcotics not in the original container.

East Lyme

Jennifer McArdle, 50, of 64 Niantic River Road, Waterford, was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to drive right.

Groton City

May 18 with breach of peace and interfering with an emergency call.

Joseph R. Berberich, 58, of 16 Tacoma Court was charged May 18 with sixth-degree larceny and third-degree criminal mischief.

Norwich

Sprague — The son-in-law of state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, is facing criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted her at their Scotland Road home last week, according to police reports.

State police on May 16 charged Timothy A. Stahl, 39, of 187 Scotland Road with disorderly conduct and third-degree assault on an elderly person. According to state statute, someone who is at least 60 years or older is considered elderly.

A Norwich police report shows the incident began in Norwich, where a man named William Redanz told police Stahl had been harassing him via telephone. According to the report, Redanz said Stahl was angry because Stahl’s wife, Rachel, had called Redanz.

City police, who first attempted to call Stahl, took a trip to Sprague to meet him in person when he didn’t answer.

Upon arrival, Officers Joseph Maldonado and Javier Santiago met with Osten, who is also Sprague first selectwoman and co-chair of the state Appropriations Committee.

In their report, they said she told them Stahl was drunk and harassing “Bill.” Osten also said Stahl had spat in her face, the report states.

As officers walked toward the attached apartment where Stahl was, they heard a woman screaming inside. At that point, the report states, they contacted state police. The town of Sprague is covered by the resident state trooper program.

When Osten opened the door, the officers entered and found Stahl and his wife in a “heated argument.” Both, the report notes, “were clearly intoxicated.”

City police separated the two while they waited for state police to arrive.

According to the state police report, an investigation revealed that Stahl “had pushed an elderly female to the ground, spit on her and kicked her in the back.”

Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, Osten, citing the “personal and private” nature of the issue, said she had no comment.

Stahl, who was released after posting a $10,000 bond, is next due in Norwich Superior Court on June 13.