Cops: Man had gun, pot, cash

TORRINGTON — A Waterbury man was arrested last week after police found him in possession of a pistol, more than four pounds of marijuana and thousands in cash, according to the Torrington Police Department.

Aaron M. Wynkoop, 32, of Craftwood Road, was arrested Feb. 23 and charged with sale of illegal drugs, sale of hallucinogen/narcotic and possession of a controlled substance in a school zone, police said.

According to police reports, a Torrington police officer “observed suspicious activity involving a maroon Nissan Maxima” on the evening of Feb. 23. They followed the vehicle, and stopped the car after the driver drove through two stop signs.

“During initial contact with the driver, the officer noticed several signs of nervousness along with the strong odor of marijuana emitting from the interior of the Nissan. The driver was asked if he had any weapons . ... And he informed the officer he had a pistol in his waistband,” according to the report. “The officer instructed the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel and not to move them.”

The officer called for backup, according to the report. The driver, identified as Wynkoop, was removed from the vehicle and the pistol, a .45-caliber Glock, was retrieved.

Wynkook was handcuffed as the officers continued their investigation. Police found a mason jar containing marijuana, three small containers of a paste identified as THC concentrate, and $2,900 in cash inside a backpack, according to the report.

Officers found a large cardboard box with a 5gallon bucket holding four bags of marijuana in the trunk.

Wynkoop was arrested, released on a $100,000 surety bond, and scheduled to appear Monday in state Superior Court in Torrington.