Crime & Safety

Flying-Porsche Driver Eligible for Alcohol Rehab

Russell Stidolph of Rowayton was found eligible for the court Alcohol Rehabilitation Program; in a separate incident, a man shot on Lowe Street Wednesday is recovering in the hospital.

Russell M. Stidolph, the fund manager whose Porsche became airborne before crashing into the upper part of a Rowayton porch last November, was found eligible Thursday for the state court Alcohol Rehabilitation program.

Stidolph, 35, of 19 Bluff Ave., appeared briefly in state Superior Court in Norwalk with his lawyer, Eugene J. Riccio of Bridgeport. Judge Bruce Hudock, on hearing from a clerk that Stidolph met the requirements for the program, officially judged him eligible and set a March 2 court date for a hearing on whether to allow the defendant into the program.

Stidolph's appearance before the judge took less than a minute and is considered routine for defendants when nothing bars them from participation in the program, as a previous criminal record might.

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Participating in the program could mean Stidolph would attend state supervised classes on the hazards of consuming alcohol and driving, and possibly receive treatment for alcohol addiction. Successful participation in the program is often required in order to get charges dismissed.

Riccio has also applied for Stidolph be considered for accelerated rehabilitation, a special form of probation that allows persons who have no criminal convictions and who are not accused of a serious felony to have charges against them dismissed if they successfully complete a program, such as alcohol rehabilitation, assigned to them by the state.

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Police said that on the night of Nov. 19, Stidolph's Porsche Carrera flew almost 42 feet over the front lawn of a 24 Highland Ave. home before it crashed into the front porch, resulting in major structural damage to the home. Firefighters had to extricate Stidolph from the vehicle, and he was treated at Norwalk Hospital.

Blood and urine samples obtained from Stidolph in Norwalk Hospital after the crash indicated he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.204, police said. Under state law, a driver is under the influence of alcohol with a blood-alcohol content at or above 0.08.

Stidolph was arrested on Jan. 3 on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, failure to obey a stop sign, failure to use a seat belt, and traveling unreasonably fast. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond.

In 2001 Stidolph launched AltEnergy L.L.C., a private equity firm focusing on alternative energy sources. Stidolph is managing director of the firm, located at 137 Rowayton Ave.

 

Man Shot on Lowe Street Recovering in Norwalk Hospital

A 21-year-old man shot Wednesday afternoon on Lowe Street, near its intersection of Flax Hill Road, was in stable condition overnight in Norwalk Hospital.

The man's injury is not life threatening, according to police, who said he was brought to the hospital in a private vehicle. Once the man was at the hospital, Norwalk Police were notified. Police detectives investigating the incident found that the man had been talking to his attackers just before the shots were fired.

A Norwalk police spokesman said in a written statement: "Detectives believe that this is NOT a random attack and that the victim may have known his attackers. The victim however, has refused to cooperate with the investigators."

Immediately after the shooting, the two suspects ran off westward on Flax Hill Road toward Soundview Avenue. Norwalk police said the suspects were described to them as black males in their late teens to 20s, both thin and wearing dark-colored hooded sweatshirts and jeans.

Police are asking the public for any information they may have about the crime. Police can be contacted through the Norwalk Police Tipline at 203-854-3111 or with an anonymous tip at www.norwalkpd.com.  


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