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An officer monitoring traffic on Post Road near Brookside Road in Darien on Friday morning saw a car driving westbound without a front license plate. The driver was also not wearing his seat belt, police said, and a check of the license plate showed no record in the Connecticut DMV system.
The car was pulled over, and the driver said he didn't have any identification on him but that his name was Oscar Alexis Campos. He told police that the car belonged to him and that it was not registered, police said. He was also unable to provide proof of insurance, and said it was not insured, police said. He said he had bought the license plate on the car from a friend, and admitted that he didn't have a driver's license, according to police.
While speaking with the driver, officers detected the odor of marijuana, according to police. He said he didn't have any on him and denied smoking it in the car.
The officers searched the car, and discovered a passport issued from El Salvador in a concealed compartment under the driver's seat, police said. The name on the passport was Kevin Rolando Parada-Mendoza. When confronted, the driver admitted that this was his real name, and said he lied about his identity because he didn't want to get arrested, according to police. No marijuana was found during the search.
Mendoza was arrested and charged with interfering with an officer, failure to insure a motor vehicle, improper use of a marker plate, driving without a valid license, failure to wear a seat belt and no license plate.
While being booked, it was discovered that there was an active warrant for Mendoza out of Stratford for driving under the influence. Stratford Police were notified and took custody of him.
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