Sobriety Checkpoint Nets One DUI Charge, Variety Of Offenses

By Andrew Gorosko

At a sobriety checkpoint conducted December 17–18 at the Wasserman Way commuter parking lot for Exit 11 of Interstate 84, police arrested one person on a drunken driving charge and arrested others on a variety of offenses, including drug charges.

The checkpoint, which ran from 7 pm December 17 to 3 am December 18, was joint effort of town police and state police. Eighteen police personnel participated in the checkpoint, including nine Newtown officers and two supervisors, plus four state troopers, two auxiliary state police, and one state police supervisor.

During the checkpoint, each passing vehicle was stopped to allow police to interview motorists to determine whether they were under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.  

At 8:59 pm December 17, Newtown police stopped a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee after it was spotted making an illegal U-turn on Wasserman Way, said Newtown police Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

The driver, James Allwein, 43, of New Fairfield, subsequently failed field sobriety tests and was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and making a restricted turn. Police processed his arrest and released Allwein on $100 bail for a January 7 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

At 9:33 pm, Newtown police interviewed the driver of a vehicle that had driven through the checkpoint without stopping. A strong odor of marijuana emanated from the vehicle, Sgt Vanghele said.

Police said an investigation turned up individually packaged packets of marijuana and a bottle of grain alcohol in the vehicle.

Police charged the driver, Adam Cameron-Braley, 16, of 14 Currituck Road, with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, intent to sell marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle by a minor, and with a violation of passenger restrictions for new drivers. Police released Cameron-Braley on $100 bail for a January 4 court appearance.

The vehicle contained a passenger under age 16 who was sitting behind Cameron-Braley, Sgt Vanghele said. The unidentified 15-year-old boy had hidden a marijuana pipe under the driver’s seat, police said. Police charged that boy with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police released the juvenile to the custody of his father. The youth is scheduled to appear in Danbury Juvenile Court on January 3.

Also, at 8:47 pm, Newtown police observed a vehicle being driven at high speed on the Exit 11 off-ramp by Matthew Vilanova, 18, of Monroe, so they stopped it to investigate.

Police charged Vilanova with traveling too fast, driving while under suspension, driving without automotive insurance, failure to carry a vehicle registration card, failure to display a reflectivized marker plate, and failure to illuminate a rear marker plate.

 In other miscellaneous charges, Newtown police issued motorists misdemeanors summonses for failure to have automotive insurance and failure to renew a vehicle registration.

Newtown police issued five infractions for driving an unregistered vehicle, one infraction for failure to renew a vehicle registration, and one infraction for driving without a license.

They issued one written warning each for failure to obey a sign and for failure to display a marker plate.

Also, Newtown police issued verbal warnings for failure to wear a seat belt and for six other miscellaneous violations.

At the sobriety checkpoint, state police filed a total of 14 charges. Those charges included violations concerning driver’s licenses, automotive insurance, and vehicle registrations.

Among those cases, state police arrested two Bridgeport residents on charges including drug violations.

At 10:45 pm, state police charged Monica Oliveras, 26, and Jose Marquez, 36, each with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana. Both are scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on January 3.

At 7:39 pm, state police charged Timothy M. Lynch, 26, of Monroe, N.Y., with criminal impersonation. Lynch is slated to appear in court January 3 to answer that charge.