NAUGATUCK — A 39-year-old Waterbury man was arrested July 22 on charges including driving under the influence and child endangerment after a traffic stop on Waterbury Road.
Lazaro Ramirez was taken into custody around 6 p.m. during a traffic enforcement operation conducted by Naugatuck Police officers.
The vehicle was stopped in the parking lot of the American Motor Lodge.
Ramirez admitted to officers that he had no license, registration or insurance.
Officers detected the odor of alcohol and observed signs of possible impairment.
Ramirez told police he had consumed three beers on his way home from work.
Three children, ages 1, 9 and 11, were found improperly secured in the back seat of the vehicle.
During the investigation, officers located a folded dollar bill containing suspected cocaine residue and multiple empty beer cans throughout the vehicle.
Ramirez exhibited numerous indicators of impairment during standardized field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.
He was charged with three counts of risk of injury to a minor, operating under the influence, improper use of registration, operating without insurance, operating without a license and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Ramirez was released on a $20,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m.
The Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident.
