When a traffic light near Exit 11 turned green and a van on the roadway still didn't move, a officer became suspicious and walked up to the vehicle, according to police reports.
Police gave the following account of what happened next in the incident, which occurred just before midnight on Monday, July 16:
The officer found the driver, Maximo Reyes, 38, of 63 West Ave., asleep at the wheel of the 1996 Chrysler Town and Country van. The keys were still in the ignition and the engine was running.
When the officer tried to wake Reyes up he discovered it wasn't easy to do. Eventually Reyes did wake up—and the van immediately began moving forward. The officer somehow was able to get the vehicle in park and remove the keys.
Reyes failed field sobriety tests and was charged with driving while under the influence. The driver later posted $250 bond and was released pending an appearance July 27 in state Superior Court in Stamford.
