Wild Traffic Stop in Vernon Turns into Drug, Gun Charges

VERNON, CT — Two people were arrested on drug and gun charges after a wild traffic stop in Vernon on Tuesday, police said.

It was 2:26 in the morning on Tuesday when a Vernon patrol officer stopped a black Nissan Altima for a lane violation in the parking lot of 33 Windermere Ave., an apartment building.

Police discovered that the driver, 23-year-old Shawn Pressey, of Hartford, had on him heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, according to an arrest report. As officers attempted to handcuff Pressey, he began fighting with them, according to an arrest report.

He punched one officer in the head and elbowed another in the eye, according to a report.

When he was finally brought to the ground and handcuffed, a .38-cal.Derringer handgun was located inside the waist band of his pants, according to a report.

After he was put into a cruiser, 20-year-old Jenessa Cyr, of Main Street, Vernon, arrived at the scene and claimed the heroin belonged to her. She was subsequently arrested, according to a report.

A strip search at police headquarters yielded gram of cocaine hidden inside Pressey's body, according to a report.

Pressey was held on a $300,000 bond and was to appear in court Monday.

He was charged with:

• Evidence tampering
• Carrying a gun without a permit
• Weapons in a motor vehicle
• Interfering
• Assault on public safety personnel
• Narcotics possession
• Marijuana possession
• Possessing drugs near a school or daycare facility
• A lane violation
• Use of drug paraphernalia
• Driving while under suspension

Cyr was held on a $10,000 bond for narcotics possession, police said.

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