Wanted Man Snagged at Vernon Safety Checkpoint

VERNON, CT — Police snagged a wanted burglary suspect at a Tuesday safety checkpoint funded by federal and state grants.

During the morning commute Tuesday, Vernon police were stationed at the intersection of Reservoir Road and Sunrise Drive for a Click-it-or-Ticket checkpoint and a spotter noticed a car with a safety violation, police said.

After the car was waved over, a law enforcement database showed the the driver, 35-year-old Chris Smith of Waterbury, was wanted for skipping court on third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and sixth-degree larceny charges, police said.

He was initially arrested in January by state police of the Troop K barracks, according to judicial system records.

Vernon police will be out in Click-it-or-Ticket roving patrols and checkpoints as part of a nationwide efforts that runs through June 3.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel