Allegedly Said: 'Might Be Marijuana in the Back Seat, Officer'

The first indication a Darien police officer had that something might be wrong was when a 2004 Jeep Cherokee sped up to the officer's patrol car, quickly got into the left lane and, on passing the patrol car, jerked back into the right lane in front of the officer, according to police.

That final maneuver was done in a "dangerously close manner," the officer said.

Here's the account (an accusation not proven in court) that Darien police gave of the rest of the incident, which led to charges against the driver and his passenger:

The incident began at about 5:43 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, as the officer was driving west on the Post Road. Once the vehicle passed the patrol car, the officer stopped it near the intersection with Hollow Tree Ridge Road.

When the officer spoke with the driver, Armen Karaptian, 24, of Tremont Avenue in Stamford, the second indication of possible imminent charges came to the officer in the form of the distinct odor of marijuana wafting through the officer's nostrils.

The officer asked Karaptian's passenger, Raul Nunez, 28, of East Avenue in Stamford, whether he had anything illegal on him or in the car. That's when Nunez said there might be a bag of marijuana in the back seat.

In fact, there was marijuana in the back seat, both in a marijuana cigarette in a box of cigarettes and four small, clear plastic bags of marijuana in a larger clear plastic bag.

Cocaine was also found in the car, along with a digital scale with traces of cocaine and marijuana.

Nunez and Karaptian were each charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

Karaptian later posted $15,000 bond and was released. Nunez was held on a $20,000 bond (a larger bond because the narcotics were found closer to Nunez in the car). Each is scheduled to appear Thursday, Aug. 15, in state Superior Court in Stamford.