Update at 6:55 a.m.: According to the state judiciary, Weissinger is facing a total of 11 charges. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail with a court date of Aug. 14.
Original story:
As they say, timing is everything.
Sometimes, the most significant arrests come out of the perfunctory police traffic patrols, like spot checks, or, as it was in this case, a routine speed enforcement detail.
Newly installed Sgt. Martin “Marty” Martinez, the Connecticut State Resident Trooper for Montville, in detailing the incident, heralded the officers involved for keeping the community safe.
And you’ll soon see why.
Tuesday afternoon, Montville Police Officer Gregg Jacobson and colleague Officer Mark Hallbauer of the East Lyme Police Department were parked on Silver Falls Road, parallel to Route 161 conducting speed enforcement. Presently, a gray four-door Subaru raced by the officers, clocked by Jacobson, police said, doing nearly 80 eastbound on 161 heading toward Route 85.
Jacobson and Hallbauer began a pursuit in an attempt to catch up to the speeding vehicle. After several minutes, Jacobson noted the driver hooked a right onto Butlertown Road and at that time hit the lights and siren on his vehicle. The suspect continued south on Butlertown Road, making a left turn onto Sachatello Industrial Drive, racing east toward Route 85, Martinez said.
According to Martinez, when Jacobson arrived near Cardinal Road, he could see fresh tire tracks on the grass, coming from Route 161. He followed the tracks in search of the fleeing driver when he discovered the car abandoned in a private driveway, partially hidden from view behind some trees. A witness told Jacobson that the driver, described as a white male, ran off into the wooded area behind the residence.
CSP Trooper K-9 officer Michael Zmayefsi and his dog Peruan arrived to assist in the search and soon located the driver, identified as 25-year-old Justin P. Weissinger of Lyme. And when they found the suspect, they also found a loaded .380 caliber pistol and a knife in a black plastic sheath.
According to Martinez, the gun had been reported as stolen during a burglary in Salem last week.
Weissinger was also found to be in possession of a “number of” different narcotics.
Weissinger faces a number of felony charges including possession of a loaded firearm, possession of weapons in a motor vehicle, interfering with a police officer, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, and larceny among other charges. Held on $50,000 bail, he was due in court Wednesday. The Connecticut Judiciary did not update the case as of press time.
Martinez, who began as Resident State Trooper for Montville less than two weeks ago, praised the officers.
“(They) should be commended for their motivation to make the town of Montville and surrounding towns in the Troop E region safer for the public. Their actions bring great credit upon them, this command and the Connecticut State Police,” Martinez said.
