The hired driver who stole a rented car and crashed into a vehicle driven by Town Clerk Suzanne Burr Monaco in February had heroin in his system, Trumbull Police announced last week.
Trumbull resident Hunter Kay, 24, was back in the news again Friday, July 1, when police arrested him around 9:30 a.m. at his Pemberton Drive home on the second of two warrants stemming from a nearly fatal two-car accident on Church Hill Road that took place on Feb. 3.
Kay was charged with two counts of assault in the second degree with a motor vehicle, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to drive right on a state highway. He was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Friday, July 8.
According to a report, the toxicology report that came back from the state lab earlier in the week confirmed that Kay had opiates in his system.
Police added that they found needles, spoons and heroin packets in the car he was driving when he crashed into Monaco’s vehicle, sending her and her husband, Domenic, to the hospital.
Marijuana was also found in the car and Kay tested positive for having it in his system while in St. Vincent’s Hospital’s emergency room, where he was transported after the accident.
First warrant
Kay was served the first warrant — for taking the car without permission — back on June 9.
According to a separate police report based on that warrant, Kay was hired by an out-of-town businessman to drive the rented vehicle and serve as a designated driver on Feb. 3.
Police said Kay began driving the man around 1 p.m. and dropped him at several meetings throughout the day before making a final stop at Joseph’s Steakhouse in Bridgeport that evening.
The report added Kay asked the man if he could leave and go home to change clothing while the client had dinner inside the Steakhouse. The man denied the request, a Trumbull police officer told The Times; however, Kay left the scene in the rental car.
He was traveling southbound on Church Hill Road when his vehicle crossed over the double yellow line at 8:22 p.m. and struck a northbound vehicle, which was driven by Burr Monaco.
Back in February, the unidentified businessman who hired Kay reported his car stolen to Bridgeport police before receiving a call from Trumbull police that the vehicle had been in an accident. He went to Trumbull police headquarters to file an official report, which resulted in the first warrant, police explained.
Kay was processed and released on a $1,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday, June 20.