Assault on Trooper, Vehicle & Foot Pursuit Lead to Arrest by Police from Ridgefield, Danbury, Redding & State

Assault on Trooper, Vehicle and Foot Pursuit, Extensive Search Lead to Arrest

 

On July 4, 2015 at approximately 9:15 a.m., A Trooper from Troop A-Southbury  was conducting a check of the I-84 Exit 1 Commuter Lot in Danbury, when he approached a vehicle with a male passed out at the steering wheel.

The sole occupant of the vehicle, Marc D. Debenigno, had narcotics and drug paraphernalia on the passenger seat beside him.  The Trooper initiated an investigation, woke Debenigno, and he stepped from the vehicle.  The Trooper determined Debenigno was not having a medical emergency, and placed him under arrest.

Debenigno resisted arrested and began to struggle with the Trooper as he was being handcuffed. The Trooper deployed his taser, but Debenigno was not struck.

Debenigno re-entered his vehicle and fled the commuter lot.  The Trooper engaged in a vehicle pursuit in an attempt to stop Debenigno. The vehicle pursuit entered New York State on secondary roads, where New York State Police assisted, before the vehicle pursuit re-entered Connecticut. 

The vehicle pursuit continued on CT highways, before it was terminated on Route 7 southbound just north of the Ridgefield line when Debenigno’s vehicle struck a guard rail. Debenigno then exited his vehicle and engaged Troopers in a foot pursuit jumping into a large swamp.

Troopers immediately secured the area, and received additional assistance from Connecticut State Police K9 teams, a Dive Team, a Bloodhound team, and Trooper One-helicopter. Danbury Police Department, Ridgefield Police Department, and Redding Police Department also assisted in the search.  Danbury Fire Department responded with a Zodiac boat and assisted CSP K9 teams in the swamp.

On July 4, 2015 at approximately 3:10 p.m. Troopers located Debenigno in swamp.  Debenigno was taken into custody and transported by EMS to Danbury Hospital for evaluation.

The Narcotics and drug paraphernalia were seized as evidence and transported to Troop A-Southbury.  Debenigno will be held at Troop A upon his release from the hospital.

There were no Trooper or civilian injuries.