Sobriety Checkpoint Yields Three Drug Arrests

Although police did not arrest any motorists on drunken driving charges during a sobriety checkpoint held on the night of Saturday, November 28, and early morning hours of Sunday, November 29, police said they did arrest three people on drug charges.

Police set up the checkpoint on Wasserman Way at its intersection with Trades Lane at Fairfield Hills, said Sergeant Christopher Vanghele. Wasserman Way is a connector road that interconnects Route 25, Route 34, and Interstate 84.

During the checkpoint, an estimated 600 vehicles passed through the area. Police stopped each vehicle to briefly interview its driver, seeking to learn whether the motorists had been using alcohol and/or drugs before driving.

Baro, the police department’s German shepherd, was on hand to aid police investigations at the checkpoint, Sgt Vanghele said. Police staffed the checkpoint with eight patrol officers, one sergeant, and one radio dispatcher. Police held the checkpoint one day later than had initially been planned due to inclement weather.

Besides the drug charges filed against three people, police issued eight motor vehicle infractions, including four violations for driving unregistered vehicles, and three violations for failure to wear a seatbelt, Sgt Vanghele said.

Police issued motorists 36 miscellaneous warnings, he added.

At about 9:10 pm on November 28, police stopped motorist James W. Proulx, 20, of Manchester, N.H., at the checkpoint. Police said that an odor of marijuana was apparent in the vehicle that Proulx was driving. Less than four ounces of marijuana and some drug paraphernalia were located in the auto, police said.

Police said that they charged both Proulx and vehicle passenger John Misererdino, 19, of Southbury each with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both men were released on $100 bail each, with both scheduled for December 15 appearances in Danbury Superior Court, police said.

Also, at about 11:05 pm on November 28, police stopped motorist Joel Retuerto, Jr, 26, of Danbury at the checkpoint.

After conducting a search of Retuerto and his vehicle, police said they charged Retuerto with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Police said they had detected the odor of marijuana in the vehicle.

Retuerto posted $100 bail and was released for a December 15 court appearance, police said.

Police conduct such sobriety checkpoints to deter drunken driving and to get drunken drivers off the roads. The sobriety checkpoint was conducted in conjunction with the police’s Click-It or Ticket seatbelt compliance enforcement campaign. (See related story.)