CT man driving wrong way on Route 8 allegedly found with suspected drugs, phony gun

A wrong-way driver on Route 8 in Litchfield was arrested on DUI and other charges over the weekend after state police allegedly found him with suspected narcotics, a fake gun and fireworks.

Troopers received a report of a wrong-way driver heading north on the southbound side of Route 8 just after 2:20 a.m. on Saturday and were able to spot the motorist driving erratically in a white Kia Optima in the area of Exit 41, according to Connecticut State Police.

Responding troopers shut down the highway at Exit 42 out of safety concerns.

Troopers were able to pull the motorist over and identify the driver as 40-year-old Darnell Tomlin of Waterbury, state police said.

According to state police, troopers alleged that Tomlin showed signs of possible impairment before they allegedly spotted what appeared to be alcoholic beverage bottles in the area of the driver side door and floor of the vehicle as he was being escorted out of the car. Tomlin allegedly failed multiple field sobriety tests before he was arrested.

While searching the vehicle, troopers allegedly found “items consistent with explosive materials or fireworks” as well as a facsimile firearm, suspected narcotics, materials consistent with drug sales and drug paraphernalia, all of which were seized.

Tomlin was taken to the Troop L barracks in Litchfield and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving the wrong way on divided highway, use of drug paraphernalia, sale of a narcotic substance, possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of explosives, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, criminal possession of firearm/ammunition and first-degree reckless endangerment.

He was released on a $50,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned in Torrington Superior Court on June 28.