Police Blotter: High Beams Make Easy Target of Drunk Driver

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department:

Monday, July 12

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Evan LeFloch, 28, of Norwalk was charged with driving under the influence and failure to dim his vehicle's high beams after an early morning traffic stop.

Around 1 a.m., LeFloch's 2010 Mercedes E55 was headed eastbound on Post Road at a high rate of speed—highbeams engaged—when it passed a cruiser headed the same direction. According to police, LeFloch slowed down suddenly when he noticed the car but was nevertheless stopped by the unit near Thorndal Circle.

As officers interviewed LeFloch, they reportedly noticed glassy, bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcoholic beverage. LeFloch told the officers he didn't realize his brights had been on—likely due to his state of intoxication, police said.

After failing field sobriety tests, LeFloch was arrested and taken to police headquarters. Bond was set at an unusually high $1500 because LeFloch was "uncooperative in processing" and declined at first to provide basic information about himself, said Capt. Fred Komm. He posted and is set to appear in court July 22.

Wednesday, July 14

MOTOR VEHICLE VANDALISM: The owner of a 1996 Ford Bronco reported that it had been keyed while parked in the westbound parking lot of the Noroton Heights Station. The man told police he had left the vehicle around 6:15 a.m. that day and returned around 7:35 p.m. to find a scratch running nearly the entire length of the driver's side door. No other vehicles appeared to have been vandalized. The cost of the damage is unknown.

THREATENING & DISORDERLY CONDUCT: James O'Connor, 44, of East Hartford was charged with threatening and disorderly conduct after an incident at his girlfriend's home on Chestnut Street. At the time of the incident, the two had known each other for two weeks, and O'Connor had been staying at the woman's home since July 11. When O'Connor had reached a state of intoxication Wednesday—described as a "contributing factor" in the incident—the woman suggested he stop drinking. O'Connor reportedly became belligerent in response, yelling at her and threatening to do her harm. When the episode was reported to police, O'Connor was arrested on $250 bond. He appeared in court July 15.

Friday, July 16

MARIJUANA POSSESSION: Zachary Vento, 21, of Norwalk was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of illegal fireworks, and executing an improper turn during a traffic stop.

Around 4:30 p.m., an officer watched Vento's 2002 Volkswagen GTI execute an illegal right turn from the left lane of westbound Post Road, enter Tri-S Mobil Automotive (211 Post Road) through the exit lane, and loop around again through the station's entrance lane.

When police stopped Vento on the exit 13 ramp to I-95 south, he initially told officers he wasn't sure why he had been pulled over. Once informed, police said Vento became increasingly nervous. Both he and a passenger—who was not charged in the incident—admitted to police that they had been arrested in the past, including on drug charges in the passenger's case.

Police then asked Vento if he had anything in the car they should know about, to which he responded that he was in possession of a blunt. The ensuing search turned up a cigar case containing a roach—or marijuana cigarette stub—on Vento's person, a 7-inch blunt under the driver's seat, a second 7-inch blunt under the passenger's seat, and a 4-inch blunt plus a baggy with a small amount of the drug in the center console. All field tested positive for marijuana.

Vento was arrested and released on $250 bond. He is set to appear in court July 26.