New Canaan Police made three arrests at a DWI checkpoint over the weekend, set up along Old Stamford Road near exit 36 off the Merritt Parkway.
Philippo G. Scandizzo, 48, of Colonial Road in Stamford, was stopped at the checkpoint at approximately 9 p.m. New Canaan Police Sgt. Carol Ogrinc said officers who approached the vehicle detected the odor of marijuana inside.
Ogrinc said when asked if he'd been smoking, Scandizzo replied, "a little bit." A K-9 unit on scene indicated on the vehicle, and a metal pipe containing residue was found, Ogrinc said. He was issued an infraction.
John Zaccagnino, 66, of Strawberry Hill Avenue in Stamford, was stopped at approximately 9:46 p.m.Ogrinc said officers at the checkpoint observed him coming off of the Merritt exit already crossing the double yellow lines.
Ogrinc said Zaccagnino informed officers he'd had a few drinks earlier and was instructed to perform a field sobriety test. He was charged with driving under the influence and failure to drive right and released on a Promise to Appear. He has a court date of July 10.
Daniel Kowaleski, 19, of 424 Hope Street in Stamford, was stopped at approximately 11:29 p.m. When asked by officers if he'd been drinking or doing drugs, he responded he hadn't been drinking, and when specifically asked about doing drugs, he hesitated before saying no, Ogrinc said.
After becoming visibly nervous, Ogrinc said the K-9 Unit indicated on the vehicle. Two small plastic bags containing what appeared to be marijuana were discovered, as were three pipes and a grinder, she said. Koweleski's license was also discovered to be suspended.
He was charged with possession of less than half-an-ounce of marijuana, two counts possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a license.
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