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04/23/2018 12:00 AMEast Haven Police were able to arrest a man on a number of drug charges after a good samaritan stepped in to assist police.
Police were called to the area of Cortina Road and Thompson Street on Wednesday, April 18 for a report of a disabled vehicle pulled onto the side of the road with its hazard lights on. When officers arrived, they observed an individual exit the rear of the vehicle while trying to conceal something in his right fist.
The man, later identified as Frank M. Proto, 57, was asked several times to reveal what was in his hand, but he responded by putting both of his hands in his pockets. Officers asked Proto to remove his hands from his pockets, but Proto refused. Proto reportedly continued to ignore requests from the officers, and a physical altercation ensued.
While officers were trying to gain control of Proto's arms, the original complainant who called in the suspicious disabled vehicle, exited his residence and assisted officers with taking Proto into custody.
Once Proto was handcuffed, officers discovered crack cocaine in his possession. A glass smoking pipe commonly used for smoking crack, drug paraphernalia with residue on it, and Xanex were found inside Proto's vehicle.
Proto was charged with illegal possesion of a controlled substance (narcotic), illegal possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and interfering with a police officers. He was held on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven court on May 2.