Man Wandering at Southington Rest Area Slapped With Drug Charges

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A man who was found walking around a highway rest area wound up with drunken driving and drug charges, state police said.

At 7:41 a.m. Troopers were dispatched to the Southington rest area off Interstate-84 for a man wandering around the parking lot who appeared to be distraught, an arrest report indicates.

The man had been driving a car and seemed intoxicated, according to an arrest report. He then failed a series of field sobriety tests, according to an arrest report.

Troopers searched the vehicle and located narcotics and items associated with the sale of narcotics, according to an arrest report.

The man, 32-year-old Edward Ortutay, of Middlefield, was taken into custody, state police said.

His charges include:

• Driving under the influence
• Narcotics not in their original container
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Possession of narcotics with the intent to sell
• Sale of a hallucinogen (second offense)
• Illegal possession of a narcotic

He was held on a $50,000 bond with a court date of Friday, according to an arrest report.

He also has an outstanding warrant from the West Haven Police Department for Aggravated Assault, according to an arrest report.

Photo Credit: CSP