Police Sobriety Checkpoint Yields Arrests

By Andrew Gorosko

At a Hawleyville sobriety checkpoint last weekend, police made one drug arrest, charged three motorists with driving under the influence, and also filed various motor vehicle violations against drivers.

Nine police officers and one sergeant conducted the checkpoint on the night of Saturday, June 15, and early morning hours of Sunday, June 16, on Hawleyville Road near its intersection with Covered Bridge Road, just south of Exit 9 of Interstate 84. Police have staged such sobriety checkpoints on that section of road many times during the past several years.

 During a checkpoint, police stop every passing vehicle to inquire about motorist’s sobriety. Most stops are brief, perfunctory events, after which drivers continue onward.

 When police suspect that something is amiss, however, they investigate.

 Police stopped an estimated 700 vehicles at the checkpoint, said Sergeant Chris Vanghele. Sergeant Henry Stormer supervised the checkpoint.

Besides the three drunken driving arrests and one drug arrest, police issued 11 verbal warnings for various motor vehicle violations and also issued four written warnings. Police found one motorist driving an unregistered vehicle. They issued one infraction ticket for an automotive emissions violation. Also, police issued one violation for failure to use a child safety seat.

Police said they stopped motorist Morgan J. Litwin, 20, of 21 Surrey Drive, Brookfield at the checkpoint about 10:45 pm and smelled marijuana smoke emanating from his vehicle.

A search of the vehicle turned up seven ounces of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and about $2,600 in cash, police said. Police said they seized the cash.

Police charged Litwin with possession of more than four ounces of marijuana, illegal distribution of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After processing his arrest, police released Litwin on a $20,000 bond for a July 2 appearance in Danbury Superior Court to answer the charges.

During the course of the sobriety checkpoint, motorist Paul M. Nigro, 54, of 20 Ashford Lane exited I-84 at Exit 9 and then turned onto southbound Hawleyville Road, police said.

After spotting a sign that was posted explaining that police were holding a sobriety checkpoint, Nigro put his vehicle into reverse gear and backed it up at high speed, police said.

In backing up his auto, Nigro smashed into two traffic signs on the highway off-ramp. Nigro then left the scene, according to police.

Police then pursued Nigro and stopped him to investigate, charging him with evading responsibility for leaving the scene of the accident, and also charging him with driving under the influence.

After processing Nigro’s arrest, police released him on a $100 bond for a July 2 appearance in Danbury Superior Court to answer the charges.

 Also, at the checkpoint, police stopped Anthony J. DeFilippo, 55, of Bridgeport. DeFilippo failed field sobriety tests and was charged with driving under the influence, police said. After posting a $100 bond, police released him for a July 2 court appearance.

In another stop at the checkpoint, police said they pulled over Thomas Lukmin, 21, of Middlebury and spotted an unopened case of beer in his vehicle.

Police said Lukmin failed field sobriety tests and was charged with driving under the influence. Police released Lukmin on a promise to appear in court July 10 to answer the charge.

Police use state transportation grant money to cover costs for police overtime for sobriety checkpoints. More sobriety checkpoints are scheduled for the coming months.