Man Charged Under Leandra's Law for Driving Drug Impaired with Children in Car

CANAAN, NY — A Columbia County man was arrested for Leandra’s Law after being stopped for a traffic violation.

State Police said Timothy M. Bragan, 34, of Claverack, was stopped on I-90 September 14 around 9:38 p.m. and was found to be impaired by drugs.

He was traveling with two children, ages 4 and 10, in the vehicle, police said.

Bragan was arrested and taken to the New Lebanon barracks where he was processed and evaluated by a drug recognition expert.

He refused to submit to a blood test to determine whether he had drugs in his system.

Bragan was subsequently charged with:

• Driving while ability impaired by drugs with a child, a felony
• Endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor
• Second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor
• Multiple vehicle and traffic violations.

He was arraigned in the Town of Canaan Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bail or $3,000 bond.

Police said the children were turned over to their grandfather.

Photo caption: Timothy M. Bragan. Photo credit: NYSP.