UPD: Drunk Driver Hit Officer With Vehicle

Utica, NY (WIBX) - A 36-year-old Whitesboro man faces several charges after allegedly backing his vehicle into a police officer, driving drunk and driving without a license.

According to Utica police, Robert Piechowicz was involved in an altercation at a bar on Varick Street and when an officer went to Piechowicz's car to talk to him, the man allegedly backed up his vehicle and hit the officer.

Police say the officer then opened the driver's side door to tell Piechowicz to stop his car, but instead, he started to drive off. The officer was pulled about 100 feet by the vehicle but was not injured.

Piechowicz was later arrested on Genesee Street and charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, unsafe backing, failure to obey a police officer and DWI.

Piechowicz was driving with a suspended license for a prior DWI conviction and also had an active bench warrant out of Herkimer for DWI, police said.