Texting While Driving Nets Arrest of Teen Driver

An 18-year-old Greenwich driver who was stopped by police after he was seen using an i-Pad while driving was arrested on drug-related charges, along with two passengers.

According to a Greenwich Police report, the driver, identified as Andrew A. Blumberg, of 32 Alpine Road, was arrested Monday morning following the incident in the 300 block of North Street. Blumberg was seen driving with the i-Pad in use on his lap.

The driver was stopped by an officer working a private duty construction job directing traffic in the area who saw the car pass through the work zone several times from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. According to Sgt. John Slusarz of the Traffic Division, the officer stopped the driver after he saw him use the i-Pad and a passenger drop what appeared to be a dark cigar-like leaf onto the ground.

While officer investigated, he smelled burned marijuana and then searched the car. Police said he found a green leafy substance that tested positive as marijuana and a plastic bag containing pills inside the car.

Blumberg was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and illegal storage of a narcotics. He also received a verbal warning for distracted driving. He was released on a promise to appear June 7 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

The passengers – a Greenwich 17-year-old was charged with possession of marijuana, and Kevon Williams, 18, of 30 Armstrong Ct., Greenwich, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. The unidentified 17-year-old was released on a promise to appear June 8 in the Juvenile Matters Division of state Superior Court in Stamford. Williams also was released on a promise to appear June 7 in state Superior Court.

* This story was updated to include circumstances leading police to stop the driver.