Police said they saw a man acting suspiciously in the parking lot at Newtown Mobil, a gas station/convenience store at 62 Church Hill Road, about 9:54 pm on March 22, so they investigated.

They then learned that Danbury police held a felony arrest warrant for the man under investigation - Patrick Blanding, 34, of Danbury.

In conducting their investigation, police found that Blanding had more than eight grams of a substance suspected to be crack cocaine and more than $900 in his pocket. A search of Blanding's vehicle turned up approximately $600 in cash, about 28 grams (one ounce) of cocaine, and several bags of heroin. Police said they also found some illegal Alprazolam, which is a prescription medication commonly known as Xanax, a tranquilizer.

Blanding was arrested on four counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a narcotic substance with intent to sell. Police held him on $5,000 bail for an arraignment the following day.

In Connecticut Superior Court in Danbury on March 23, Blanding pleaded not guilty to all five charges. A judge raised his bail on the charges to $10,000. Blanding was being held at Bridgeport Correctional Center on March 26. He has multiple criminal cases pending against him. His next court appearance in Danbury is scheduled for March 29.

Police Officer Adam James investigated the March 22 case.