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Niagara Gazette
PENDLETON —
Deputies charged a Lockport man — who has worked for the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Army Police — Wednesday with driving while intoxicated.
Christopher Michael Guadagno, 41, 5383 Murphy Road, reportedly almost caused an accident on Campbell Boulevard near Beach Ridge Road about 11:30 p.m.
The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office got a call from a woman who said a man driving a white Chevy Cavalier crossed into her lane and almost hit her on Campbell Boulevard. She then told deputies that she followed the driver, Guadagno, who pulled over and came to a stop.
A report said the complainant approached Guadagno, who was not wearing pants, and gave the woman his license and car keys through the window, before deputies arrived.
Deputies interviewed Guadagno regarding his condition and lack of dress. He told them he was on his way to a Walgreens for medication and that he was a retired U.S. Department of Defense police officer and current licensed New York state private investigator.
Deputies noted that Guadagno did not seem to be acting rational and was unsteady on his feet, but had no odor of alcohol about him. He said he’d taken an antihistamine before driving. Guadagno failed all but one field sobriety test, the report said. Deputies noted the gaze nystagmus portion of the test was “consistent with narcotic involvement.”
He initially agreed to take blood and urine tests at Lockport Memorial Hospital but on the way told deputies he would not submit to the tests.
Deputies did find a police badge and two police identification cards. The badge and identification cards showed that Guadagno did in fact hold a position with the DOD/U.S. Army Police. The two identification card were both expired by several years. He said he’d purchased the badge himself, according to deputies. The investigation involving the badge and ID cards was transferred to the Office of Special Investigation at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.
Deputies also found a blue traffic vest with the word “POLICE” displayed on it. Guadagno also had a badge and identification card from New York State identifying his as a private investigator. A identification card showing that Guadagno was a certified New York state security guard was also located. These credentials had valid service dates upon them, deputies noted.
Guadagno is scheduled for Town of Pendleton Court Wednesday.
