Police Blotter: Dental Products and a Big Sky Bust

The following information was provided by the Darien Police Department: 

Tuesday, July 6

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Edy Hernandez, 38, of Bridgeport was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, driving without a license, and failure to drive right after an early morning traffic stop.

Around 1 a.m., an officer driving behind Hernandez saw his 1992 Toyota Celica turn from Post Road onto Old Kings Highway North, crossing the double yellow line multiple times in the process. Hernandez was stopped and later arrested after failing field sobriety tests. He posted $250 bond and is set to appear in court July 16.

Wednesday, July 7

ATTEMPTED LARCENY: Frank Eaton, 48, of Stamford was arrested and charged with fifth degree criminal attempt at larceny stemming from an incident at CVS (963 Post Road).

Around 8 p.m., an officer driving eastbound on Post Road noticed the manager of the CVS flagging him down. When the cruiser stopped, the manager told police that Eaton was inside the store carrying a trademark black duffle bag that according to surveillance tapes he had used to steal "thousands of dollars" of merchandise in the past. The manager had contacted 911 immediately but said he happened to notice the unit on Post Road when he came outside.

When an officer entered, he intercepted Eaton before he was able to leave the store. A review of surveillance tapes showed him putting numerous bottles of Prilosec and 3 Sonicare toothbrush accessories into the black duffel, collectively valued at $719. Eaton later admitted to police that he had intended to steal the items, as he regularly does to cover the cost of a heroin addiction.

Eaton was arrested and held on $10,000 bond due to previous convictions. He was unable to post, however, and was scheduled to appear in court June 8.

Thursday, July 8

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Gregory McCalla, 27, of Norwalk was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, driving without a license, and failure to obey a control signal.

Around 9:30 p.m., an officer traveling eastbound on Post Road observed McCalla's 2006 Subaru Impreza executing a wide right turn onto Post from Old Kings Highway North. When McCalla ran a red light at I-95 southbound exit 13 a short while later, the officer stopped his vehicle. As he approached and began to interview McCalla, he noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage and glassy, bloodshot eyes.

When McCalla failed field sobriety tests, he was arrested and held until posting $500 bond. He is set to appear in court July 19.

Friday, June 9

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Natasha Strietz, 19, was charged with driving under the influence, failure to drive right, and misrepresenting her age to procure liquor.

Police noticed Strietz's 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier cross the double yellow line as it was driving eastbound on Tokeneke Road. As an officer pursued her, she turned the vehicle into a driveway, police said.

There, once he reached Strietz's window, the officer noticed bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on her. After she failed field sobriety tests, she was arrested and taken to Darien Police Headquarters, where a Connecticut driver's license bearing someone else's name was discovered during a pat-down. Strietz admitted to having used it to get into Ernie's and said that it belonged to a friend. 

Strietz, described by a police official as "uncooperative" during the arrest, was charged and released on $250 bond. She is set to appear in court July 19.

SEXUAL ASSAULT WARRANT ARREST: Joshua Green, 25, of Darien turned himself into police after learning of a warrant for his arrest on charges of sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. The incident that gave rise to the charges took place in 2004, when Green is said to have fled to Florida and had sexual relations with a then-14-year-old girl.

Read the full story: Darien Man Arrested on 2004 Sexual Assault Charges

Saturday, June 10

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Adam Dabrowski, 20, of Norwalk and Carlos Florez, 21, of Stamford were arrested on charges stemming from an early morning traffic stop.

Police running radar on Post Road opposite Renshaw Avenue observed Dabrowski's 2005 Toyota Camry traveling westbound at 65 m.p.h. in a 35 m.p.h. When the officer pulled out to pursue the vehicle, Dabrowski reportedly tried to elude police by turning right down Fitch Avenue.

But the officer finally caught up to the vehicle, approached the driver, and began conducting an interview in which he noted a strong odor of marijuana and bloodshot eyes on Dabrowski. After seizing a bag from the driver's side door which field tested positive for the drug, police charged Dabrowski with driving under the influence, speeding, and possession of marijuana—1.6 grams in all.

Because a pipe was found on Florez during a pat-down, he was charged with possession of marijuana paraphernalia and also arrested. Both posted $250 in bond and are set to appear in court July 20.

MARIJUANA POSSESSION: Danielle Belair, 26, of Three Forks, Mont. was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to keep prescription druges in their original container after another early morning traffic stop.

Around 12:38 a.m., an officer watched Belair's Texas-registered 1997 Chevrolet Astro run a red light headed westbound at the intersection of Mansfield Avenue and Post Road. Police pulled over her vehicle and—after uncovering numerous previous arrests in Kansas, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma during a background check—told Belair that the department's K-9, Zulu, would conduct a free-air sniff around the vehicle. Belair then told the officer that a lot of people drove the Astro, and that she couldn't be sure what was in it.

During the search, Zulu turned up a hit on the driver's side door handle and, after entering the car, pointed police to a white hanbag bag on the floor between the front seats. When police opened the bag, they found pills of Darvocet—a schedule four narcotic—along with amoxicillin and ibuprofen. Additionally, police found a glass pipe with marijuana residue in it.

Belair was arrested and held on $7500 bond, which she was unable to post. She was scheduled to appear in court Jully 12.