Crime & Safety

Drunk, Disobedient Man Pulled from Vehicle

New Hampshire man faces multiple charges after fleeing the scene of an accident and failing to comply with an officer.

The following information was provided by Capt. Fred Komm of the Darien Police Department:

Wednesday, March 31

Darien police had to physically remove a drunken New Hampshire man from his vehicle, after he fled the scene of an accident and refused to obey an officer once stopped.

Police say 41-year-old David Dearville of Manchester, N.H. was traveling eastbound on the Post Road in the area of Brookside Road just before 5 p.m., when he struck a Norwalk woman's vehicle from behind. Post 53 arrived at the scene and transported the female driver to Norwalk Hospital; she complained of neck pains.

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Dearville had taken off, police say.

An officer working a special traffic detail nearby witnessed the accident and broadcast a description of Dearville's 2001 Nissan Maxima and his N.H. plate.

A second officer soon caught up to Dearville and followed him on to the I95 northbound at Exit 13. Traffic was moving at a sluggish 25 mph, and the officer followed Dearville—lights and sirens blaring—for about one mile. Now at Exit 14, police say traffic had all but stopped. The officer got out of his vehicle and approached Dearville, signaling to roll down the window.

Dearville failed to comply, forcing the officer to open the unlocked door and physically remove him from the car.

Capt. Komm said Dearville explained through slurred speech that he "saw the sirens but didn't know what to do."

Police detected a strong odor of alcohol.

Dearville was placed under arrest and transported to Norwalk Hospital for neck pains; police followed.

In Dearville's vehicle, police found multiple Coors Light bottles on the passenger seat and a plastic cup of beer resting on the center consul.

Dearville was released from hospital at 8:30 p.m. and held overnight at Police Headquarters on Hecker Ave. in lieu of $10,000 bond.

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He went to court the following morning for charges of DWI, evading responsibility, disobeying signal of officer, following too closely and drinking while operating a motor vehicle.


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