People who live and drive in Connecticut know that they can be pulled over by officers for a variety of reasons while they are operating vehicles. A person can be stopped for exceeding the speed limit, for driving on the wrong side of the road, for failing to stop fully at a stop sign or even for having a headlight out. What is also important to remember is that once a person is stopped, officers may have the ability to pursue other potential offenses.
That is precisely what happened to one Connecticut man along a stretch of Merritt Parkway in Westport. Originally stopped by officers for supposedly driving in a manner reports deemed as erratic, the man was subsequently arrested for a myriad of offenses. The ultimate list of charges numbered approximately 11 with many of those being related to a handgun that was found in the vehicle. The weapons charges included possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The man was also charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and reckless driving. After failing field sobriety tests, he was taken to jail where he later was released after posting bond.
There can be many challenges when multiple criminal charges are filed against a person. Talking with a lawyer may be helpful for anyone who has been arrested and charged with more than one crime.
Source: CT Post, “Police: Erratic driving leads to drug, weapons charges,” Frank Juliano, Oct. 20, 2016