Vehicle traffic stop leads to possession arrest

TORRINGTON — A city man was arrested after being caught with bath salts, heroin and amphetamines during a traffic stop, according to the Torrington Police Department.

Jamison M. Shaw, 34, of 1 Adelaide Terrace, Torrington, was arrested March 10 and charged with possession of a controlled substance — bath salts, illegal possession of narcotics — heroin, possession of a controlled substance — prescription pills, failure to obey stop sign and illegally operating a motor vehicle under suspension, police said.

A Torrington police officer saw a black Subaru drive through a stop sign at the intersection of Wolcott Avenue and Woodbine Street on the evening of March 10, then stopped the vehicle on Eagle Street, according to a probable cause report.

The driver was identified as Shaw, who was found to be driving with a suspended license and have an open warrant for his arrest.

“During my interaction with Shaw I observed his pupils to be constricted and exhibiting nervous behavior as he was shaking violently when handing me his driver’s license,” the officer said. “Due to my training and experience Shaw’s nervous behavior and condition of his eyes were indicators of possible recent narcotic use.”

Shaw was asked about his behavior after being removed from the car, according to the report. He denied having narcotics in the vehicle.

“When questioned Shaw repeatedly said if any narcotics were in the vehicle they did not belong to him, and claiming the vehicle was not his,” the officer said. “Shaw’s behavior coupled with his response led to believe he was trying to separate himself from possible narcotics held inside the vehicle.”

The officer found 2.21 grams of heroin, bath salts and 20 amphetamine pills in various packaging inside the vehicle, according to the report.

Shaw was arrested, held on a $5,000 surety bond, and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Torrington March 19, police said.

He was charged with violation of probation, held in lieu of a $50,000 courtset bond, and scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Hartford on March 19, according to police.