Man Who Resisted Drug Arrest, Broke Cop's Arm Gets 5 Years in Prison

A 22-year-old Sloatsburg man who fought with a police officer who was trying to arrest him on drug charges and broke the cop's arm in 2012 has been sentenced to five years in state prison.

Darien Burch of 151 Orange Turnpike, Sloatsburg, was sentenced by Rockland County Court Judge William K. Nelson, who also required Burch serve five years on post-release supervision when he gets out of prison.

Burch pleaded guilty to second-dgree assault, resisting arrest and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in connection with the March 24, 2012, incident on Memorial Park Drive in Spring Valley.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said a village police officer was attempting to arrest Burch on a cocaine possession charge when Burch hit the officer in the face with his fist and then hit and broke the officer's right arm.

Burch fled the area and was arrested three days later by New York State Police troopers, Zugibe said.