Suspect ID'd By Matching Location of Tattoos, Scars and Gunshot Wounds

Sometimes, showing off doesn't pay.

On March 12, police observed a car pull into the Honeyspot Motor Inn as a high rate of speed and park in the east lot in front of the first guest room window.

The officer wrote in his report, “The Honeyspot Inn is a well known and documented location for narcotics sales.”

Police then observed a male exit the vehicle and approach the window of the first floor guest room. The male, later identified as Samuel Rivera, 30, of Bridgeport, briefly spoke to a person in the window and quickly returned to his car.

Police wrote, “Often times, narcotics customers approach the first floor windows of the Honeyspot in an attempt to make a drug purchase ad exit quickly.”

As Rivera left the parking lot in his vehicle, police heard the engine roar and the tires squeal, as Rivera left a 40-foot tire burn-out strip in the parking lot.

As Rivera attempted to leave the lot at a high rate of speed, police blocked his exit with his patrol car with emergency lights activated. Police then spoke to Rivera who said he was there at the motel talking to his brother.

Police asked Rivera if he had any weapons or drugs in his car and at first said, “no,” and then said “there might be a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle,” police wrote.

He was removed from the car, patted down and a “very small” amount of marijuana was found next to the vehicle’s console.

Rivera was unable to show any ID but told police that he smoked the tires because he was “trying to show off.” Due to the small amount of marijuana found, he was not charged.

However, a background check showed that he has a suspended operator’s license, 10 prior arrests including narcotics possession and sales and 12 prior license suspensions.

Rivera was positively ID’d, police said, through his social security number, and a Department of Corrections description including location of tattoos, scars and matching gunshot wounds.

Rivera was charged with operating with a suspended license and unsafe movement. He was released on a promise to appear in court on March 22.