New York State Police troopers were dispatched to a stretch of I-684 shortly before 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, where there was a report of a motorist who crashed into a guardrail on Route 22, which runs adjacent to I-684.
Upon arrival at the scene, police said that troopers spotted a man holding a child, running across Route 22. When approached by the troopers, he refused to comply with instructions, despite the pleas of the child he was carrying.
According to police, the man - later identified as Michael Conti of Yonkers - was “arrested with care given to maintain the safety of the child” which resulted in an injury to one of the troopers attempting to apprehend him. Conti continued to struggle, throwing drug evidence along the way toward a nearby fence.
Police said that the investigation into the crash found that Conti was driving with a revoked license while impaired by drugs with a child in the vehicle. He was also found to be in possession of five grams of three different types of prescription medication.
Conti, 30, was charged with:
- Two counts of assault;
- Attempted Assault;
- Aggravated DWI under Leandra’s Law;
- Aggravated DWAI drugs with a prior conviction;
- Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle;
- Tampering with evidence;
- Two counts of endangering the welfare of a child;
- Obstruction of governmental administration;
- Criminal mischief, and;
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Following his arraignment in the Town of North Salem Court, Conti was remanded to the Westchester County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear in court this week to respond to the charges.
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