PD: Drunk Driver from Durham Hit Building, Then Swapped Seats With Passenger

Middletown Police say a Durham man was drunk when he backed into a local fast food restaurant this week and then switched seats with his passenger in an attempt to confuse police.

Christopher P. Brandimarte, 30, of 290 Tuttle Road, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence, unsafe backing, evading responsibility and interfering with a police officer.

According to a report, police responded to the Taco Bell at 851 Washington Street just before 1 a.m., on Tuesday, April 2, after they received a tip that a driver had just hit the building while going through the drive thru. The witness told police the driver had switched seats with his passenger.

When police located the vehicle behind the restaurant, Thomas J. Grzybowski, 28, of Middletown, was driving the Honda Civic, the report says. Grzybowski was questioned and given field sobriety tests. He was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.

Police, however, determined that Brandimarte had been driving the vehicle at the time of the accident. He also failed field sobriety tests, the report says.

Grzybowski was also charged with interfering with a police officer.

Both men are due in court on April 16.