Police: Motorist tried to hit pedestrian

Both men face charges from incident

TORRINGTON — A city man is accused of chasing a Manchester man with his vehicle in an attempt to hit him after an argument.

Richard Paladino, 58, of Darling Street, was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with second-degree breach of peace, second-degree threatening, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, thirddegree criminal mischief and attempt to commit second-degree assault, police said.

The other man involved, 51-year-old Robert L. Stewart, of Hilliard Street, Manchester, was also arrested and charged with seconddegree breach of peace.

Officers responded to a Torrington home for a reported disturbance on the evening of Dec. 21, according to a probable cause report. They spoke with Stewart, who said he had talked with Paladino over the phone, resulting in Paladino coming over to the house where he was, the report said.

“Paladino wanted to fight, resulting in Stewart striking Paladino once in the face,” the report said. “As a result of this incident, Paladino later threatened to hit Stewart with his vehicle.”

Paladino then entered the driver’s side of the vehicle and proceeded to drive onto the lawn in an attempt to strike Stewart, according to the probable cause report.

“Paladino claimed to have been attacked by Stewart, after arriving at the residence to retrieve his belongings,” police said in the report.

At the scene, officers saw “numerous deep tire tracks” on the lawn, “as well as skid marks on the roadway leading onto the property,” the report said.