An 80-year-old man was arrested Sunday for allegedly driving drunk in the Seymour Christmas Parade.
The driver, Lester Warner, of Bethany, drove a convertible Chevy Caprice with classic plates during the parade, according to Seymour Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Satkowski. The car had a sign promoting the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department’s “Santa’s Elves,” Satkowski said.
Police began receiving reports during the approximately 1‑mile parade that Warner’s car was swerving on the parade route. At one point his car drove toward children watching the parade on a sidewalk, but Warner righted the vehicle and continued on.
“There was an open container (of alcohol) in the car while he was driving,” Satkowski said.
In addition to driving under the influence, Warner was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a child, Satkowski said.
“In front of him were marchers, women and children, obviously,” Satkowski said.
“We pulled him over toward the end of the parade,” Satkowski said. “We investigated and he submitted to field sobriety tests, which he failed.”
The Seymour Christmas Parade included 50 marching units with a bevy of Christmas themed floats, according to parade organizers.
The parade starts every year at the town’s community center on Pine Street and continues over the Broad Street bridge onto Route 67.
