Darien Man 64, Charged with DUI

When a Darien police officer turned on his emergency lights last Friday night in order to pull over a car on the Post Road that was being driven without its lights on, the driver ignored the officer, police said.

Darien police gave this account (an accusation not proven in court) of the matter:

The driver, traveling on the Post Road near Exit 11 of Interstate 95, followed the car from the Post Road to Hecker Avenue, past police headquarters, then left onto Fitch Avenue, where the driver, Richard DeForest Sr., stopped at his home, police said.

All the while the patrol car's lights were flashing and siren was on. DeForest drove his 2008 Honda at about 35 mph through the 25 mph zone, the police car in lukewarm pursuit.

DeForest smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet, and his speech was slurred. He failed his field sobriety tests. Asked if he had been drinking that night, he said he had a few drinks.

DeForest was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol, failure to display lights and disobeying the signal of an officer. He was later released on payment of a $100 bond and is scheduled to appear Sept. 10 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Asked why he hadn't pulled over when his pursuer turned on the police emergency lights and siren, he said he just wanted to get home.