When Darien police stopped a 22-year-old driver because she had no front license plate on her car, they found the car was uninsured, her driver’s license was suspended, and she had marijuana and pills with her that she said was “ecstasy,” according to police.
Police gave this further account of the incident, including accusations not proven in court:
At 8:25 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, a police officer saw a 2005 brown Nissan Altima being driven on West Avenue. When the car was stopped, the officer smelled the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle.
Police dog Kenny was brought to the traffic stop and indicated narcotics were in the car. A police search found marijuana, several devices that appeared to be for smoking pot, and a plastic container with blue-green pills in it.
The driver, Nataly Garcia, 22, of Bridgeport , told police the pills were “ecstasy.” Tests of the suspected marijuana and ecstasy later confirmed that was what they were.
The woman was charged with possession of narcotics, possession of more than half an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failing to insure a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle without a front license plate and driving with a suspended driver’s license.
Police arrested Garcia. She wasn’t able to post the $500 bond for the various charges against her, so she stayed overnight in jail and was taken the next day to state Superior Court in Stamford.
Previous Charges
According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website:
Garcia was charged by Milford police on Sept. 2 with possession with intent to sell marijuana or narcotics (a felony) and possession of narcotics or more than half an ounce of marijuana (a misdemeanor).
On May 26, state police charged her with driving with a suspended driver’s license and failure to use a seat belt. That case is in state Superior Court in Bridgeport. On Sept. 23, state police charged her with the same two offenses, and that case is in the same Bridgeport court.
The Darien charges mark the third time in less than five months where police have charged her with driving while her license was suspended and the second time since Sept. 2 that she’s been charged with possession of marijuana or narcotics.