DARIEN, CT — A 19-year-old Darien man was arrested on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol by a minor Saturday following a traffic stop on Noroton Avenue, according to Darien police.
Christian Marchesi, of Shields Road, was pulled over at about 12:40 a.m. after an officer saw Marchesi driving his Volvo sedan southbound on Noroton Avenue near West Avenue without headlights on.
„The officer informed Marchesi of the reason for the stop, and noted the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle,” wrote Darien police officials in a statement. „When asked, Marchesi admitted to consuming a beer. The officer noted that Marchesi’s eyes were glassy in appearance. Marchesi was asked to submit to standardized field sobriety testing, which he failed to perform to standard. Based on the above, Marchesi was placed under arrest for the listed charges.”
Officers found empty beer cans on the floor of the vehicle, and in the driver side door compartment was a „vape pen with a cartridge containing THC oil,” that Marchesi „admitted to smoking” earlier that evening, according to police.
THC is the compound in marijuana that can get a user high.
„At headquarters, Marchesi consented to breathalyzer testing. At [1:24 a.m.] Marchesi’s [blood alcohol content] was measured at .000,” but due to his admission of smoking THC, the officer asked Marchesi to submit to urine testing, which he refused, police said.
Marchesi was released on a $200 bond and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on July 30.