Greene County man attacked officer at traffic stop, police say
A Greene County man is accused of a attacking a police officer in this Rensselaer County town while being held on suspicion of drug possession.
Michael Dauphin, 24, of Athens, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice. He was sent to the Rensselaer County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Schodack police said they pulled a driver over for traffic violations on Thursday and that Officer Jordan Harrington saw Dauphin, a passenger, was in possession of heroin and hypodermic needles.
Police said Dauphin tried to hide the drugs and paraphernalia to prevent Harrington from seizing them.
That’s when Dauphin attacked Harrington, and a fight ensued, police said. They said Harrington deployed a taser, which Dauphin tried to take from him.
Officers from East Greenbush, Rensselaer, North Greenbush and Nassau, along with state police, arrived on scene and were able to taken Dauphin in custody, police said.
Harrington and Dauphin were taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.
Dauphin is scheduled to appear Tuesday in Schodack Town Court.
Police said the driver of the vehicle, who was not identified, was issued traffic tickets and released.