Narcotics Arrest After Traffic Stop In Darien: Police

DARIEN, CT — After Darien police pulled him over for lacking a front license plate, a 24-year-old Stamford man was found to be in possession of marijuana packaged for sale and prescription pills, according to authorities.

Shyheim K. Bonaparte, of High Ridge Road, was pulled over on the Post Road near the entrance to exit 13 on Oct. 5 just after 5 p.m.

He had been seen driving a gray Nissan Altima westbound without a front license plate, and the rear plate was discovered to be to a green Saturn LS2, according to police.

"The officer noted that Bonaparte appeared extremely nervous while answering routine questions, informing the officer that he had just purchased the vehicle in June," wrote Darien police in a statement. "Bonaparte admitted to not having the vehicle registered and to using a friend’s marker plate. He further admitted that he did not possess a driver’s license. When asked, Bonaparte was unable to provide proof of vehicle insurance."

Additionally, officers discovered that Bonaparte was driving with a license that had been suspended since the end of April. "Based on the above, Bonaparte was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest."

Darien police dog Kenny was brought to the scene and conducted a free-air sniff of the exterior of Bonaparte’s vehicle, and alerted officers to "the presence of the odor of narcotics."

• A plastic baggie containing a small amount of marijuana on passenger’s side floorboard
• Loose marijuana in the area of the transmission shifter on the center console
• 2 unmarked prescription bottles in the trunk containing numerous pills later identified as (41) Cyclobenzaprine, (4) Zolpidem, and (4) Diclofenac
• 8 small, individually packed baggies of Marijuana in a larger bag (indicative of sale of marijuana)

Bonaparte was charged with:

• Illegal Storage of Narcotics
• Possession of Narcotics
• Possession of Less Than 1⁄2 ounce of Marijuana
• Sale of Marijuana/Controlled Substance
• Driving a MV while Under Suspension
• Improper Use of Marker Plate
• Failure to Insure a Motor Vehicle
• Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle
• No License Plate

He was released after posting bond on bail of $1,000 and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 15.

Photo: Shyheim K. Bonaparte. Photo credit: Darien Police Department

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