Former first selectman charged with DUI

MONROE — Former first selectman Steven Vavrek was arrested for driving under the influence early Saturday morning.

Monroe Police Lt. Stephen Corrone said officers on patrol around 12:45 a.m. Saturday when they saw a vehicle being driven at a low rate of speed on south Pepper Street. The car also crossed the double yellow line in the middle of the road several times, Corrone said.

Police stopped the car, which was being driven by Vavrek, 61, of Monroe. Vavrek served as the town’s first selectman from 2009 to 2017, when he opted not to run for re-election.

Corrone said Vavrek failed sobriety tests and took a breath test twice. The first time, his blood alcohol content was given as .186 and the second time it read as .1759. In Connecticut, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher.

Vavrek was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and failure to drive in the proper lane. When reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, Vavrek said he had been at home when he received a call to pick up a friend, which is why he was on the road.

“It happened,” he said. “I’m going to face full responsibility for it.”

Vavrek posted a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court May 6.