On Wednesday, 11/20/2024, at approximately 7:03 PM, Troop F in Westbrook began receiving several 911 calls reporting a vehicle stopped in the climbing lane on Route 9 southbound in the area of exit 15 in Haddam.
Troopers responded to the scene and observed a brown Ford Escape stopped in the climbing lane, with two adults standing on the right shoulder, determined to be the vehicle’s passengers. The Trooper positioned their cruiser behind the Ford and activated the emergency lights to alert oncoming motorists. Exiting the cruiser, the Trooper approached the vehicle and found an adult male in the driver’s seat, later identified as Owen Stacey Lopez-Gordil (DOB: 09/08/1992), of New Britain. When asked how the vehicle came to be stopped in this location, Gordil stated that he had run out of gas and needed money to refuel. During the interaction, the Trooper observed several signs of impairment, including the odor of alcohol on Gordil's breath, bloodshot and glossy eyes, and difficulty following instructions. When asked, Gordil denied consuming any alcoholic beverages.
Based on these observations, the Trooper requested that Gordil participate in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), to which he agreed. However, Gordil ultimately failed to perform the tests to standard. As a result, he was placed in handcuffs and escorted to the Trooper's cruiser. While attempting to secure Gordil in the passenger seat, he became combative, blocking the Trooper from closing the door. Gordil then began kicking the door and the passenger-side dashboard. At the Trooper’s request, an officer from the Middletown Police Department responded to the scene and assisted in transporting Gordil to Troop F for processing, using a caged cruiser.
During arrest processing, Gordil became aggressive and uncooperative, spitting in the faces of two Troopers. Gordil then proceeded to verbally threaten a Trooper stating, "I am gonna put a bullet in your head" and "I am gonna kill you." Gordil provided a chemical breath test sample, which revealed his blood alcohol content was over the legal limit. Further investigation also determined that Gordil’s driving privileges were suspended. As a result, Gordil was charged with the following violations:
C.G.S. 14-215 - Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle while Under Suspension
C.G.S. 14-227 - Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs
C.G.S. 53a-167a - Interfering with an Officer/Resisting
C.G.S. 53a-167c - Assault of a Public Safety Officer
C.G.S. 53a-61aa(a(1A - Threatening 1st Degree; Use of hazardous substance with the intent to terrorize another person
Gordil was assigned a $10,000 cash/surety bond, which he was unable to post. Gordil was held on bond and transferred to the custody of Hartford Correctional Center. Gordil is scheduled for arraignment at Middletown Superior Court on 11/21/2024.
