Sheriff: 2 Connecticut Motorists Drove Drunk

Traffic stops on Route 22 in Southeast this weekend led to two arrests by officials from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Here are the details:

• Deputy Sheriff Frederick Mark arrested Sherman, CT resident Stephen Mehne, 55, at about 4 a.m. Friday. Police say the driver committed a traffic violation and subsequently failed field sobriety tests. Mehne is facing a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated, as well as a violation: unlawful possession of marijuana. Officials held him at the Putnam County Correctional Facility pending arraignment. 
• Mark arrested Southbury, CT resident James D. Abdella, Jr., 28, Saturday. Abdella is alleged to have committed a traffic violation before police stopped him. After failing field sobriety tests, Abdella was charged with driving while intoxicated. He's also facing a misdemeanor charge of third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Authorities held Abdella at the Putnam County Correctional Facility pending arraignment.

Editor's note: The Sheriff's Office generally does not release blood-alcohol levels, as they may be considered evidentiary. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.