Traffic Stop For No Brake Lights Leads to Drug Arrests

A traffic stop in South Norwalk Tuesday night led to the arrest two Bridgeport residents on several drug charges.

Shortly after 10 p.m. an officer stopped a car at the intersection of Burritt Avenue and Day Street after allegedly noticing its brake lights were not working.

Officer Robert Zwillich reported smelling burning marijuana when he approached the car and directed the man and woman in the car to exit it.

Officer Richard Montanez brought his dog, Kai, to the scene, and the dog reportedly indicated the car contained drugs in the area of the front passenger seat.

The officers searched that area and allegedly found 30 bags of a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana, two cigar casings, and $321 in cash lying on the floor.

The car's driver, identified as Nelson Rivera, allegedly said it wasn't his car, and he and his passenger, identified as Julie Figueroa, allegedly denied knowing drugs were in the vehicle.

Police said they found 18.5 grams of marijuana in the car.

Rivera, 33, of 2426 East Main St., Bridgeport, was charged with possession of less than four onces of marijuana; manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana; possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school; and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with engaging in a conspiracy to commit each of these crimes.

Figueroa, 34, of 528 Wood Ave., Bridgeport, was charged with possession of less than four onces of marijuana; manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana; possession of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school; and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also charged with engaging in a conspiracy to commit each of these crimes.

Rivera was held on $10,000 bond and Figueroa on $2,500 bond. Both were given court dates of Sept. 19.