Contractor Arrested After Falling Brick Narrowly Misses Woman

A contractor was charged with reckless endangerment Monday after a loose brick narrowly missed striking a Port Chester woman, police said.

The 69-year-old woman was taking garbage out to her Willett Avenue driveway at about 2:40 p.m. while workers were installing siding on the neighboring house at 334 Willett Ave., Lt. James Ladeairous said.

That's when a brick -- and small chunks of concrete -- came tumbling down from the home's chimney, narrowly missing the woman and landing in her driveway. She called police, who arrived to find a defiant foreman -- Krzysztof Kalinowski, 35, told police he didn't think he needed a permit to conduct work at the house.

Officers disagreed, and charged Kalinowski with second-degree reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor, as well as a violation for working without a permit. Police said Kalinowski's crew did not have appropriate safety measures in place -- a net, scaffolding or other precautions -- and put a halt to work at the house.

Kalinowski, of 4 Capalbo Place in Cos Cob, CT, was spotted at Port Chester's building department offices this morning, applying for a permit.