Thrown Beer Can Leads To Car Incident, Arrest in Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A beer can chucked from a vehicle in Southington led to several charges against a local man, police said.

The incident took place at 6:10 p.m. Sunday in the area of Hobart Street and Mountain View Drive, police said. As police were investigating a disturbance, they determined that Thomas Smith, 35, was involved in a dispute with two other people. Smith is accused of throwing a beer can from his vehicle into the roadway.

A woman then went to pick up the can and Smith accelerated his vehicle toward her, according to a report. He then swerved away from her to avoid striking her with the vehicle, a report indicates.

At the time of the incident there was an active protective order in place between Smith and the woman, police said. Police stopped Smith's vehicle a short time later and took him into custody.

Smith was charged with violating the protective order, second-degree breach of peace and first-degree reckless endangerment, according to a report.