2 Charged With DUI — With Kids In Their Cars — After Vernon Fireworks Show: Police

VERNON, CT — Two people were arrested by Vernon police on drunken driving charges with children in their vehicles after Wednesday night's July in the Sky fireworks show, an incident report shows.

According to an incident report, at 10:27 p.m. Wednesday, Vernon police observed a vehicle bypass a clearly marked road closure near Park Street and School Street, according to an incident report. The driver, Samuel Flint, 38 of Ellington, was later located inside the barricaded event area, according to an incident report.

During the investigation, officers suspected Flint was
operating his vehicle under the influence and administered standardized field sobriety tests, which he failed, according to an incident report.

A juvenile was also present inside the vehicle, according to an incident report.

Flint was arrested and charged with driving under the influence with a child younger than 18 in the vehicle, second-degree breach of peace and failure to drive in the proper lane, according to an incident report. Flint was given a court date of July 21 in Rockville.

Sixteen minutes later, Vernon Police responded to a minor motor vehicle accident in a parking area involving a driver who appeared to be under the influence, according to an incident report.

Officers located the vehicle and identified the driver as David Blanchfield, 55, of Vernon. Blanchfield then failed sobriety tests, according to an incident report.

Two juveniles were also present inside the vehicle, according to an incident report. Blanchfield was arrested and charged with DUI with a child younger than 18 in the vehicle. Blanchfield was given a court date of July 20 in Rockville, according to an incident report.