Broken Headlight Leads to Narcotics Arrest, a Jeep Goes Airborne

The following information was supplied by the Monroe Police Department. No arrested person is guilty until so judged in a court of law.

Traffic Stop Leads to Narcotics Bust

A broken headlight led to the narcotics possession arrest of a Wallingford man at around 12:24 a.m. on Jan. 13.

Nicholas Micknak, 35, of Summerhill Road was charged with possession of less-than-four-ounces of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia and defective equipment (the headlight). He was released on $5,000 bond for a Jan. 23 court date.

Police said Micknak's eyes were bloodshot and he appeared nervous when an officer stopped his black Mercedes Benz on Route 34 for the broken headlight, so a police canine was brought in. The dog alerted the officer to the driver's side of the vehicle, according to the report.

Inside the Mercedes was a large quantity of marijuana (3.55 ounces when weighed at police headquarters), a digital scale and a brown paper bag, according to police. Police said Micknak was carrying $2,164 in cash.

Jeep Snaps Utility Pole

A 43-year-old Fairfield man lost control of his Jeep Wrangler on Judd Road at around 12:43 a.m. on Jan. 11, crossed over the double yellow line, went off the road and struck a rock sending the jeep airborne before crashing into a utility pole and snapping it in half, according to police.

Police said the jeep was about 40 feet off of the roadway when it hit the rock and eight feet off the ground when it traveled around 23 feet through the air.

Monroe Volunteer EMS was on the scene and police said the driver was transported to St. Vincent's Medical Center with injuries.

A crew from Connecticut Light & Power replaced the pole later that morning.