Seneca County Sheriff Tim Thompson said on March 19 that deputies arrested Brian Kampnich, age 36, of Watertown, New York, after a property damage crash in the Town of Romulus on March 15.
The incident is significant as it involved a law enforcement officer and resulted in multiple charges. According to the sheriff’s office, Kampnich was charged with driving while intoxicated and obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, both misdemeanors.
Deputies responded to State Route 96 where they found a red Dodge Ram 2500 abandoned after it had struck a guard rail, a Department of Transportation road sign, a parked vehicle, and a privately owned shed. Witnesses reported seeing the driver leave the scene on foot and enter nearby woods. Deputies set up a perimeter and located Kampnich hiding. He reportedly ignored several verbal commands before being detained.
Authorities identified Kampnich as both the registered owner of the truck and as a corrections officer at Five Points Correctional Facility. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing his state-issued uniform. During processing at the Seneca County Law Enforcement Center, Kampnich refused to provide a breath sample.
Kampnich was issued several traffic tickets and held for arraignment in Seneca County Centralized Arraignment Part Court.
