A 59-year-old Scranton man whose vehicle was stuck on the concrete barrier of a bridge Friday was under the influence of alcohol, police said.
When officers attempted to arrest David Brown after he failed a sobriety test, he resisted and said he didn’t understand why he was being taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint. After arresting Brown, of 955 Johler Ave., officers found a counterfeit $100 bill among his things.
Brown, who is being held without bail, faces a felony charge of forgery in addition to multiple other charges.
According to the complaint, at about 8:30 p.m. Scranton police officer Stephanie Teaman was flagged down near the intersection of Albright Avenue and Court Street by a woman who told her a vehicle was lodged on a concrete barrier on the nearby bridge.
After spotting the vehicle, Teaman approached the male driver, later identified as Brown, and asked him if he was OK. He said he was. Brown said he had been driving north on Albright Avenue when another vehicle traveling in the middle of the road caused him to strike the barrier.
Teaman noted Brown’s vehicle was mounted and resting on the barrier, and the impact had pushed the fence off the concrete.
She notified the city’s Department of Public Works about the damage to the bridge.
When Teaman asked Brown for his driver’s license, he said he didn’t have it. When asked for his name and date of birth, he provided the name Aziym Brown, with a wrong birthdate.
Police were ultimately able to identify his as David Brown and ascertain his correct birth date.
Officers could smell alcohol on Brown’s breath and asked him if he had been drinking. He originally denied consuming alcohol but then admitted to drinking two beers. Brown failed a field sobriety test.
When officers treid to put Brown in handcuffs, he initially pulled away. He told officers he didn’t understand why he was being arrested.
During a search after his arrest, police found the counterfeit $100 bill among $916 in currency. The bill was mixed in with legitimate currency and initially appeared genuine. But, upon closer inspection, police saw that it was marked “copy.”
Police also found a drug pipe, a green, leafy substance and three small bags containing what appeared to be crack cocaine.
Brown was taken to police headquarters, where officers requested the passcode to his cellphone, which was being seized as evidence. Brown got upset and punched the glass of the holding-cell door, cracking it.
In addition to the felony count of forgery, Brown is charged with driving under the influence, resisting arrest, falsely identifying himself to police, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
District Judge Alyce Farrell arraigned Brown on Feb. 21 and denied bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 5.