DUI Check Nets Alleged Drug Dealer

Norwalk Police set up a DUI check point last Saturday and it netted a Stratford man who was allegedly dealing marijuana.

Stephan Hinds, 33, of Stratford, was arrested on January 7 in the DUI check point set up by law enforcement officials at 94 West Avenue beginning at 8 p.m. According to the police report, Hinds was asked to pull over in his white Honda at 10:40 p.m after officers noticed he was driving with a cracked windshield. When Hinds rolled down the window, the officers smelled a strong odor of what they believed to be marijuana.When asked if he had been smoking marijuana, Hinds, according to the police report, looked straight ahead and did not answer.

The officer noticed loose marijuana bits on the floor board of the car. They also observed Hinds reaching for something in the back seat. Upon investigation, police noticed a plastic sandwich bag with what appeared to be a green, leafy substance in it. When asked if he had any more marijuana in the vehicle, Hinds, according to the police report, just dropped his head.

Police discovered a total of three sandwich bags containing what appeared to be marijuana. In the third bag, there was nine smaller bags that were neatly packaged with a marijuana-like substance. Police officials said that Hinds had $598 in cash on him at the time of the arrest, which they also confiscated as evidence. Hinds had 26 twenty-dollar bills in his possession.

Hinds was charged with:

• Possession of a controlled substance
• Illegal manufacturing, distribution, sale, prescription
• Illegal possession near school

Bond was set at $25,000. Hinds has a court date on January 17.