Suspect Who Led Danbury, Ridgefield Police on Chase Identified

State Police identified the suspect that led police on a pursuit Saturday that ended just north of the Ridgefield town line in Danbury. 

According to police, the incident began around 9:15 a.m. when a trooper from Troop A-Southbury was conducting a check of the I-84 Exit 1 Commuter Lot in Danbury, when he approached a vehicle with a male passed out at the steering wheel.

Police said the sole occupant of the vehicle, Marc D. Debenigno, 38, of Danbury had narcotics and drug paraphernalia on the passenger seat beside him.

The trooper initiated an investigation and woke up Debenigno. According to police, the trooper determined that Debenigno was not in need of medical assistance and placed him under arrest. Debenigno allegedly resisted arrest and began to struggle with the Trooper as he was being handcuffed.

The Trooper then deployed his taser but was not able to strike Debenigno.

Debenigno then re-entered his vehicle and fled the commuter lot, police said. The trooper engaged in a vehicle pursuit in an attempt to stop Debenigno that entered New York State on secondary roads, where New York State Police assisted, before the vehicle pursuit re-entered Connecticut.

The vehicle pursuit continued on state highways, before ending on Route 7 southbound just north of the Ridgefield town line when Debenigno’s vehicle struck a guard rail, police said.

According to police, Debenigno then exited his vehicle and engaged troopers in a foot pursuit jumping into a large swamp.

Troopers secured the area and received additional assistance from state and local authorities.

Troopers located Debenigno in a swamp at approximately 3:10 p.m. He was taken into custody and transported by EMS to Danbury Hospital for evaluation.

The Narcotics and drug paraphernalia were seized as evidence and transported to Troop A-Southbury. Debenigno was charged with possession of narcotics, assault on a police officer, escape from custody, engaging in pursuit, reckless driving and reckless endangerment.

Debenigno will be held at Troop A upon his release from the hospital.

There were no Trooper or civilian injuries.

State Police received assistance from the Connecticut State Police K9 teams, a dive team, a bloodhound team and Trooper One-helicopter. Danbury Police Department, Ridgefield Police Department, and Redding Police Department also assisted in the search. Danbury Fire Department responded with a Zodiac boat and assisted CSP K9 teams in the swamp.

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