Norwich man charged with impersonating fire chief

Montville — A Norwich man is accused of driving around at high speeds with emergency lights flashing and sirens blaring while pretending to be the chief of a local fire department, according to state police.

About 8 p.m. Friday night, Montville resident state Trooper Armando Bettini said he saw Steven T. Young, 26, of 44 Bentley Ave., Apt. 1, Norwich, speeding south on Route 12 with emergency lights on and sirens blaring. The gray Volkswagen Jetta that Young was driving passed several other vehicles in a no-passing zone and was moving erratically, the trooper said in his arrest summary report.

When Bettini pulled over Young, the Norwich man had a portable radio and an emergency medical bag inside his vehicle. Young claimed he was the captain of the Cohanzie Fire Department and was responding to a report of an active structure fire, according to the arrest summary. There also was a female passenger in the car.

A subsequent investigation found no active fire calls and that Young was not affiliated with the Cohanzie Fire Department, according to the report. As Young was being arrested, the female passenger disclosed that the Norwich Police Department has an open investigation into domestic violence allegations.

Young was taken into custody by parole officers who discovered a replica FBI badge and other law enforcement items and weapons inside his house.

Young was charged with operating a motor vehicle under suspension, passing in a no-passing zone, unauthorized use of flashing or colored lights, criminal impersonation and interfering with an officer and resisting arrest. He was being held on a $10,000 nonsurety bond and is due June 22 in Norwich Superior Court.