Darien Football Coach Accused of DUI

A Darien High School football coach was arrested in Norwalk on Halloween morning, accused of driving under the influence and fighting with police.

Around 1 a.m. on Thursday, Officer Michelle McSally noticed Christian Garnett, 32, of Stamford, speeding and thought he had a flat tire, according to police.

She made a u-turn to try and stop him, noticed a tire on the road and turned on the cruiser's lights to stop him, according to police. 

Garnett's vehicle was operating on three tires and one rim, police said.

When Garnett stopped, Officer McSally noticed him put something in the back seat that police later determined was a bag holding two syringes, a grinder and marijuana residue, police said.

Garnett’s speech was slurred, according to The Hour, and he said he was taking his car to the gas station to fill the tire with air.

Garnett failed field sobriety tests and said he could not do some of them, police said. Then he swung his arms when the officer tried to handcuff him, got into a fighting stance and made a fist, police said. 

Additional police responded to the scene and tried to subdue the 6-foot-2, 240 pound coach, police said, but he continued to struggle and officers struck him in the back and face, police said.

EMS crews arrived and transported Garnett to Norwalk Hospital, where he was belligerent to the staff and had to be handcuffed to the hospital bed, police said.

Garnet told police he was the Darien High School football coach. The Hour identifies him as the coach of the freshman high school football team

Garnett was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence, assault, use of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.

He was released on $10,000 bond and is due in court on November 8.

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