An Ansonia Board of Education member accused of carrying a firearm under the influence and drunk driving after allegedly crashing into a house has hired high-profile defense attorney Norm Pattis to defend him in the case.
Robert Caruso, 51, of Crestwood Road, was charged with operating under the influence, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to drive right, traveling unreasonably fast, and carrying a firearm while under the influence in connection to the crash, which was reported about 11:10 p.m. Saturday (May 19) at the corner of Beaver Street and Myrtle Avenue.
The five charges are misdemeanors.
Caruso posted a $1,000 bond in the case and is due at Superior Court in Derby May 31.
Messages seeking comment from Caruso were left at his publicly listed telephone number Monday and Thursday.
The Valley Indy also left a message for Pattis Thursday afternoon.
In addition to being a member of the Board of Education, Caruso is a long-time volunteer firefighter, an employee of the public works department and an auxiliary police officer in Derby.
Police said Caruso was driving on Beaver Street Saturday night when he crossed over into the southbound lane and hit a chain link fence and a stop sign.
From there, police said Caruso drove across Myrtle Avenue and crashed into the foundation of a house.
There were no injuries or other vehicles involved. Caruso was the only person in his vehicle.
Police said Caruso was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol but refused a Breathalyzer test.
The file on Caruso’s case at Superior Court in Derby does not contain the police report from the incident.
An inventory of property in the court file says police seized a .380-caliber Bersa “Firestorm” handgun, as well as a clip with six rounds and Caruso’s pistol permit.
Caruso’s future on the Board of Education now seems uncertain.
Caruso is a local Republican, but doesn’t attend town committee meetings nor caucus with fellow GOP’ers, party officials said.
However, city Republican leader Patrick Henri called on other city officials to ask Caruso to resign.
“The Ansonia Republican Town Committee is sad to hear of the incident reported via the media concerning Mr. Caruso and is glad that no one was injured,” Henri said in a prepared statement. “We hope Mr. Caruso receives the help that he needs. Any BOE member who may be involved in any sort of criminal or ethical violation should resign or be immediately requested to resign by the Chairman of the BOE, the Superintendent of Schools or the Mayor.”
Board of Education meeting minutes posted online indicate Caruso hasn’t attended a school board meeting since February.
Town and City Clerk Madeline H. Bottone said Thursday her office has not received any paperwork regarding any school board resignations since the crash.
When Ed Sharkey, a Democratic member of the school board, resigned earlier this month because he was moving, he sent a letter of resignation to the school superintendent, the mayor and his party chairwoman.
Mayor James Della Volpe said Thursday that if Caruso resigns, Ansonia’s Republican Town Committee would nominate a replacement to be confirmed by the city’s Board of Aldermen.
The Valley Indy sent an e‑mail requesting comment from Schools Superintendent Carol Merlone Thursday. A message was also left Thursday evening for school board president John Lawlor.
When asked whether Caruso would be put on any type of leave from the local fire department pending the resolution of his legal issues, Ansonia Fire Department Chief Joseph Kingston said the accident did not happen in the course of his volunteer work as a firefighter. It’s considered a private matter, Kingston said.
Pattis, whose law columns appear throughout the state, is perhaps best known for representing the co-called “New York Soccer Madam.”
He also represented an Ansonia arsonist who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010.
