Suspect Arrested On DUI Charge After New Canaan Crash Probe: PD

NEW CANAAN, CT — A 21-year-old Norwalk man was arrested on a warrant this week charging him with driving under the influence and other violations following an investigation into a four-vehicle crash with injuries in May of this year, according to New Canaan police.

Berlin Lee Charles, of Hill Street, surrendered to New Canaan police on Sept. 23 in connection with the May 25 crash on Smith Ridge and Country Club roads. In addition to the charge listed above, Charles also was charged with reckless driving, interfering with an officer and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension.

According to police, when officers were initially called to the scene of the crash, they smelled alcohol on Charles' breath, but he told them that he was not the operator of the vehicle involved in the crash.

"A subsequent investigation determined that Charles was the operator of the vehicle that failed to obey a stop sign and caused the four car crash and was operating the mv with a suspended operator's license," wrote New Canaan police in a statement.

Authorities also discovered that Charles was 20 at the time of the crash and had been consuming alcohol beforehand. And he gave the EMS and hospital staff a different name than he gave to police.

Charles was released after posting bond on bail of $20,000 and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on Oct. 3.