Deputy Injured During Traffic Stop By Drunken Driver: Sheriff

PUTNAM VALLEY, NY — A Putnam County deputy sheriff was injured when a drunken driver rammed into the back of his vehicle during a traffic stop. Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley Jr. said that around 2:20 a.m. April 3, Deputy Shane Rossiter was sitting in his marked patrol car on the right side of the northbound Taconic State Parkway in the Town of Putnam Valley.

He had pulled over a vehicle for a routine traffic infraction and had his emergency lights activated. Rossiter had issued a ticket and was waiting for the driver of vehicle to pull away when a white 2013 BMW stuck the rear of Rossiter’s vehicle.

Members of the sheriff’s office, the State Police and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

An investigation by the State Police found that the driver of the BMW — Ashwin V. Ramnath, 30, of East Fishkill — was intoxicated.

State Police arrested him and charged him with two counts of driving while intoxicated.

Rossiter was taken to Putnam Hospital Center complaining of pain to his head and left hand.

Sheriff Langley said he was grateful Rossiter’s injuries were not more serious and that this incident was a reminder of how dangerous a routine traffic stop can be for law enforcement officers.

Image via Shutterstock.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been modified from its original version to include Ramnath's place of residence.