PD: Impatient driver barreled through worker’s safety cones

MIDDLETOWN >> A city man was arrested this week after police say he intentionally sped over a cable TV worker’s safety cones at his apartment complex because he was irritated at the inconvenience.

Mark P. Pitruzzello, 61, of Newfield Street was charged with second-degree breach of peace on Oct. 26 following a dispute with a Direct TV employee, according to a police report. Pitruzzello allegedly ran over several safety cones set up by the technician after refusing to wait for them to be removed.

The worker was on a ladder conducting a service check when Pitruzzello drove his Nissan Al-

tima around the corner at a high rate of speed and ran over the cones, according to authorities.

The victim, who was descending the ladder to move the cones so the motorist could pass freely, asked Pitruzzello why he couldn’t wait, pointing out that there was still a cone stuck under his car.

“(Expletive) you, get your own cone,” he told the worker, adding that he was afraid Pitruzzello would retaliate if he tried to remove the cone stuck under his vehicle.

Police spoke to Pitruzzello at his apartment, who allegedly claimed he “didn’t have time to wait and was short with his answers,” then denied doing anything wrong. When the officer asked him to retrieve the cone, he angrily obligned, throwing it toward the technician, according to the report. “Pitruzzello was clenching his fists and it appeared he wanted to fight,” the officer wrote.

He was released on a $500 bond for a Nov. 9 court date.