Drunk Driver Tries To Sleep It Off In Stranger's Driveway: DPD

DARIEN, CT — A 37-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence on Nov. 1 after he allegedly passed out behind the wheel of a running car parked in a stranger's driveway in Darien, according to police.

The incident occurred just after 8 p.m. at a home on Sedgwick Avenue when police were called to residence on a report of a suspicious vehicle in the driveway that hadn't moved for 20 minutes.

"Upon arrival, officers located the vehicle, which was running," wrote Darien police in a statement. "The officers attempted to make contact with the operator, who was found slumped over in the driver’s seat with a sweater over his head. Officers knocked on the driver’s window and yelled to the operator, who eventually woke up."

The operator was identified as Efficace Desert, of Howard Avenue, who police said "appeared confused about where he was." He told officers that he was driving home to Bridgeport from a friend’s house in Stamford, and pulled over to sleep.

"Officers noted that Desert had difficulty paying attention and had slurred speech. When asked, Desert admitted to drinking earlier in the day, stopping at [5 p.m.]. Officers asked Desert to exit the vehicle and submit to standardized field sobriety testing, which he failed to perform to standard."

Desert was placed under arrest and taken to Darien police headquarters where his two blood alcohol tests - taken nearly two and three hours after the arrest - registered .316 and .311. The legal limit in Connecticut is .08.

Desert was released after posting a $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Nov. 12.

Photo: Efficace Desert. Photo credit: Darien Police Department

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