Sheriff: Teen Hit Deputy During Arrest in Southeast

Two Danbury, CT teens are facing misdemeanor charges after one crashed his car in Southeast and the other struck a deputy who responded to the scene, according to officials.

The incident happened on Milltown Road at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The 17-year-old driver reportedly drove "his vehicle off the roadway and into a snow bank," a press release from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office states. Deputy Sheriff Frederick Mark responded.

"[He] detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the interior of the man’s vehicle, and observed that the man appeared to be under the influence of a substance," officials said, adding that the teen, who was carrying the drug, admitted to smoking it earlier. The driver also reportedly failed field sobriety tests.

Deputy Sheriff Thomas Lee also responded to the scene. He was conducting a pat search of the passenger, another 17-year-old, when the teen hit him in the face.

The teen took off, police said, and the deputies followed. They caught him "after a brief struggle" and found that he, too, was in possession of marijuana, according to the release. He is also accused of providing officials with a false name.

Authorities charged the driver—who was released after posting $2,500 cash bail—with driving while ability impaired, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

The passenger was charged with false impersonation, resisting arrest, third-degree assault, misdemeanors, as well as two violations: second-degree harassment and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was arraigned before Town Justice Gregory Folchetti and sent to the Putnam County Correctional Facility on $5,000 cash bail.

Both will be due to appear in Southeast Justice Court at later dates.

Editor's note: The Sheriff's Office provided this information. it does not indicate any convictions.