CT man was stopped for possible DUI. Police allege they found alcohol, drugs and stolen gun in car
A New London man was arrested on DUI and weapons charges after police allegedly found a stolen gun, alcohol and drugs during a motor vehicle stop overnight.
Patrol officers conducted a motor vehicle stop on a red Toyota Camry on the Interstate 95 ramp of Bridge Street in Groton just after 1 a.m. on Friday, according to the Groton City Police Department.
Before the stop, officers allege that the driver of the Toyota was committing multiple motor vehicle violations that included failure to maintain lanes, driving unreasonably fast and failing to obey a traffic signal.
According to police, the driver, identified as 40-year-old Eric Cherry, appeared to have bloodshot eyes. Police said they could detect the odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and observed a partially consumed bottle of alcohol inside the vehicle.
Cherry was asked to perform the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, which he reportedly failed. He was then placed under arrest for driving under the influence, according to police.
As officers searched the vehicle, they also reportedly found a plastic baggie containing five multi-colored pressed pills along with a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol with a 15-round magazine loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, police said.
A records check on the gun revealed that it had been stolen in 2019, according to police.
Police said they also did a presumptive chemical test on the pills, which were found to contain MDMA, also known as ecstasy.
Cherry was transported to the Groton City Police Department and charged with 15 counts of criminal possession of firearm/ammunition, illegal possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of a firearm under the influence of alcohol, illegal possession of a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of hallucinogen/narcotics, possession with intent to sale, operating under the influence, drinking while driving, traveling unreasonably fast, failure to maintain lane and failure to obey a traffic signal.
Cherry was being held in lieu of a $100,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.