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Officers from the Darien Police Department were dispatched to a stretch of St. Nichols Road shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, where there was a report of a one-car crash where a vehicle left the roadway and came to a rest after striking a fence.
According to police, officers made contact with the driver, New Canaan resident Daniel Snelwar, 46, told first responders that he swerved to avoid a cat, causing him to leave the road and strike a fence.
Officers said that Snelwar “seemed to be acting as if under the influence of a substance, but did not detect the odor of alcohol coming from him.
Further investigation found a small plastic bag in Snelwar’s shirt pocket, which contained OxyContin. Snelwar said they were a prescription, but he did not have proof or a proper container. When prompted, Snelwar admitted to taking one pill earlier in the day.
Snelwar proceeded to fail multiple Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and he was arrested. Snelwar was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, possession of narcotics outside of its original container, possession of a controlled substance and cited for failing to maintain his lane.
Following his processing, Snelwar was released on a $500 bond and scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to respond to the charges.
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