Valatie man arrested for Felony Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Robin H. Benziger
Troop K Commander
PRESS RELEASE
New Lebanon, New York – On February 25, 2015, New York State Police from the New Lebanon barracks arrested Nicholas J. Panetta, 32 years old, of Valatie, New York, for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, a Class E Felony.
Troopers were dispatched by Columbia County 911 to the area of County Route 13 and State Route 20 for a report of an erratically operated vehicle. Uniformed members located the vehicle traveling on the shoulder of State Route 20 in the area of the Walter B. Howard School. When Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, it exited the roadway and struck a snow bank.
While interviewing the operator, identified as Panetta, Troopers noted clues that indicated he was impaired. A Drug Recognition Expert was used to confirm that Panetta was impaired at the time of the crash. Panetta was not injured as a result of the crash.
Panetta was charged with Felony DWAI when a criminal history revealed a previous DWAI conviction in 2012.
Panetta was arraigned before the Town of New Lebanon Court and released on $35 bail. He is scheduled to return to court on February 26, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.
