Driver Found Passed Out At Vernon Plaza: Report

VERNON, CT — A 46-year-old man admitted to using four bags of heroin during the course of a day after being found passed out in his vehicle in the middle of a busy commercial section of Vernon, police said.

James Calderoni, was charged with driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance and the use of drug paraphernalia after the traffic stop at 6:27 p.m. on March 16, according to a report. The report in the incident was released Monday.

That day, Vernon police received several reports about a vehicle stopped on Kelly Road near the Tri-City Plaza. Several 911 callers said the driver was passed out and slumped over the steering wheel for several minutes, according to a report.

When an officer approached the vehicle, Calderoni suddenly accelerated and sped into the lot of the shopping center across from Tri-City and parked, according to a report. He had droopy eyes and appeared lethargic when questioned, according to a report.

Calderoni told police he took four bags of heroin that day and officers located a hypodermic needle, a small amount of crack cocaine and other heroin-related paraphernalia in the vehicle, according to a report.