A 32-year-old Easton man was taken into custody following a traffic stop on Route 59, according to local police. Connecticut police based in Monroe arrested the man after observing driving behavior they say is consistent with someone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The man was later released on a $100 cash bond, and he is expected in Bridgeport for a court appearance on June 24.
According to the report, police in Monroe received calls regarding an erratic northbound driver on Route 25. Officers caught up with the 32-year-old driver after observing that he was allegedly unable to keep his vehicle in the same lane. He was pulled over and asked to submit to field sobriety testing. He apparently refused the testing, allegedly telling police he was incapable of passing the tests.
Police say the man’s movements were deliberate and slow, and that his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. They also noted slurring of his words as well as what they describe as the smell of alcohol. The man was charged with DUI and was taken to the Easton Police Department, where he also refused to submit to a breath test. There is no word as to whether he has retained criminal defense counsel.
Police evidence is an important factor in a DUI case, but it is still the burden of Connecticut prosecutors to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the man was in fact driving under the influence. Given he did not submit to roadside testing or breath tests, this evidence may be called into question. The man’s criminal defense attorney will carefully review every step taken by police on the scene to ensure his or her client’s rights were respected throughout the process.
