Police Blotter: Arrest Made In Wild Driving Case

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department:

Monday, May 24

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: Police received a report on Monday of a May 21 iPod theft out of a vehicle that had been parked in the rear lot of 895 Post Road. The complainant said he had left his vehicle around 12:20 p.m. and returned an hour later, at which point he noticed the device missing from the driver's side seat. Though he had covered the iPod with a windbreaker, he did not lock the vehicle, and wires attached to the device were left visible. The item was valued at $150.

Wednesday, May 26

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Megan Trygg, 37, of Miller Road in Darien was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to drive right. Around 12:30 a.m., an officer observed Trygg's 2009 Honda Civic stopped for an extended period of time at a green light at Leroy Ave. and West Ave. Trygg eventually proceeded north through the intersection, police said, at which point the officer observed her weaving and crossing the double yellow line on three occasions. When she was stopped, the officer further observed glassy eyes and an odor of alcohol on Trygg. She subsequently failed field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. Trygg was released on $240 bond and is set to appear in court June 7.

ARREST WARRENT: Police executed an arrest warrant for Ronnie Manning, 29, of Stamford on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless operation of a vehicle, and disobeying the signal of an officer.

The charges stem from an incident on February 18 at about 1:52 a.m. According to police, an officer stationed that night in the driveway of St. John's Roman Catholic Church (1986 Post Road) noticed Manning driving at a high rate of speed down Post in a 2001 Ford Taurus. After the officer pulled out and turned on the cruiser's lights and siren, Manning stopped briefly at Rings End Road but took off again suddenly, heading south on the same. 

Manning then stopped for a second time at Rings End and Harbor Road, police said. When the officer got out of the cruiser to approach him, however, he accelerated yet again down Rings End, eventually stopping for a third time somewhere along the way. Finally able to reach Manning's window, the officer instructed him to turn off the vehicle.

A strong odor of alcohol was soon detected by the officer, who was told by Manning's father—riding in the passenger seat of the Taurus at the time—that his son was "f---ed up" and that he may have recently smoked marijuana laced with PCP or ecstasy. Incoherent and unable to stand, Manning was transported by ambulance to Stamford Hospital for treatment.

After obtaining a search warrant for medical records, police determined Manning had had a blood alcohol content of .08% and PCP in his system at the time of the incident. He turned himself in Wednesday after police informed him of the warrant for his arrest. Manning was processed and released on $5000 bond.

Thursday, May 27

SERVING TO MINORS: An underage drinking party on Thursday led to the arrest of a Darien woman on charges of serving alcohol to minors, police said. 

Around 9:30 p.m., police were contacted by a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who said she had received an anonymous report of underage drinking at an Oak Crest residence. When police went to the house, they found several youths drinking beer in the front yard along with a number of discarded cans and plastic cups. Officers encountered about ten more youths in back, as well as a half-empty keg, a beer pong table, and more empty cups and cans.

As the party dispersed, officers made contact with homeowner Anne Bavier, 52, who was sitting in a chair by the house. Bavier told officers she had wanted to do something nice for her daughter and friends, all of whom attend high school together in Massachusetts. She said she had supervised the drinking and confiscated keys to ensure no one left, believing the party would be safe under those conditions. Bavier had also purchased the keg, police said, which bore her signature.

Officers placed Bavier under arrest, took down the names of the remaining youths, and seized the leftover alcohol. Bavier was charged and released; she is set to appear in court June 8.

ARREST WARRANT: Natalie Charles, 23, of Stamford turned herself in on an arrest warrant stemming from a charge of fourth degree larceny. The original incident took place March 25, when Charles, a teller for TD Bank (35 Post Road), reportedly took $1000 out of a large deposit made by a McDonalds. When the bank came up short, a inquiry determined that Charles had taken the money and that she had made a subsequent deposit of $900 into a personal account.

An investigator for the bank contacted police on April 28. When authorities interviewed Charles, she admitted to having taken the money but said she did not know why she had. Though she offered to repay the funds, the bank—which terminated her employment—is continuing to press charges. She was released on a promise to appear in court June 7.

Friday, May 28

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Anthony James, 58, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police running a seatbelt checkpoint on Heights Road noticed him having car trouble. Around 8:41 a.m., James had pulled his 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer over in front of Leary's Liquor Cabinet (186 Heights Road), when police at the checkpoint noticed his front right tire was flat. When an officer approached, James said he had hit a curb but wasn't sure how the tire had been punctured. The officer became suspicious when he observed reduced motor skills as well as food on James' chin and clothing. After James admitted that he had been drinking at a party, the officer administered field sobriety tests, which James failed. He was arrested and released on $250 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court June 11.

Saturday, May 29

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: Police responded to the theft of $300 Garman GPS device out of a car parked in the westbound Noroton Heights train station lot. The complainant said he left his 2004 Honda Accord around 10:45 a.m., returning at 6:45 p.m. to find the driver's side front window smashed out and the item gone. The vehicle had been locked at the time.

Sunday, May 30

SKATEBOARD THEFT: A skateboard belonging to a 13 year-old boy was stolen from a Tokeneke Club bike rack. The owner said he left the board at 4:15 p.m. and returned to find it gone an hour later. The board, valued at $100, was about 36 inches long and had a wooden top.

Monday, May 31

ATV ACCIDENT/DUI: A Darien man was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and operating an unregistered motor vehicle early Monday morning after a passenger fell out of his all-terrain vehicle, according to police.

Read the full story here: Man Charged With DUI After Passenger Tumbles From ATV