Man Faces Drug Charges in Fairfield

[Editor's note: Arrest information is supplied by the Fairfield Police Department. It does not indicate convictions.]

A Bridgeport man faces drug charges after an officer spotted him Thursday in the backyard of a property he had no reason to be in, police said.

Johnnie Newkirk, 38, was reportedly seen coming from the backyard of a Villa Avenue home and then walking into the middle of the street after spotting the patrol car, according to the report.

Police were on alert because there area has experienced several car and residential break-ins, department spokesperson Sgt. Sue Lussier said.

Newkirk allegedly told police he knew he had no right to be on the property and he had urinated behind the house, according to the report. The officer noted that the man appeared nervous and was sweating, although it was cold out.  He conducted a pat down on Newkirk and found two bags of marijuana, a knife that was determined to be legal, and a white powdery substance, according to the report.

Newkirk was taken into custody and charged with possession of narcotics and possession of less than a half ounce of marijuana. He was released on a promise to appear in court on Jan. 10.