Two New York City men arrested following traffic stop

Greenburgh, New York – On March 22, 2017, New York State Police from the Hawthorne barracks arrested Derrick C. Sutton, 30 years old, of New York, NY, for Reckless Endangerment 1^st Degree, a Class D Felony, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1^st Degree, a Class E Felony, Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E Felony, Resisting Arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the 3^rd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor, Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired by Drugs, a Misdemeanor, and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, a Violation.

Troopers observed a black Mercedes traveling northbound on the Sprain Brook Parkway failing to maintain its designated lane of travel.  A Trooper from the Hawthorne barracks conducted a traffic stop in the area of Mile Post Marker 8 and observed the passenger in the vehicle, William Allen, age 34, of New York, NY, pass several bags of marihuana to the driver.  The driver, identified as Sutton, was observed pushing the bags of marihuana between the center console and the driver seat.  From the passenger side window, the Trooper asked Sutton to hand him the marihuana that he observed being passed in the vehicle.  The officer then moved from the passenger side to the driver side of the vehicle and observed Sutton throw the marihuana from the window and flee in the vehicle, almost striking him.  Allen, who had been out of the vehicle while being interviewed, fled from the traffic stop on foot.

The Trooper pursued Sutton northbound where he attempted to exit the parkway onto Dobbs Ferry Road. Sutton exited the roadway and struck a cement barrier before he fled the vehicle on foot.  With the assistance of Greenburgh Police, Sutton was located on the southbound ramp of the Sprain Brook Parkway and placed in custody.  Allen was also located by the Greenburgh Police on Secor Road and placed in police custody.

Allen was charged with Violating Probation, a Class E Felony, Resisting Arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana, a Violation.

Troopers observed clues that indicated that Sutton was impaired.  Following an evaluation conducted by the arrested officer and a State Police Drug Recognition Expert, it was determined that he was impaired and unable to safely operator a motor vehicle.  He was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 1^st Degree when Troopers learned that his New York State driver’s license was revoked for having 31 suspensions on 25 different dates.

Both Defendants were arraigned in the Town of Greenburgh Court.  Sutton was remanded to the Westchester County Jail without bail and Allen posted $1500 cash bail and was released from custody.  Sutton and Allen are scheduled to return to the Town of Greenburgh Court on March 28, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

The State Police were assisted by the Greenburgh Police Department.