Teen at Center of Drone Controversy Arrested on Assault Charges
A Clinton teenager who rigged a drone with a handgun in an online video that has gone viral has found himself in trouble with police.
Austin Haughwout was arrested on Wednesday, July 22 after receiving a phone call from the Clinton Police Department advising him to surrender on an outstanding arrest warrant stemming from a suspicious motor vehicle investigation on July 19. The warrant charged Haughwout with interfering with an officer and failure to obey and officer's signal.
Haughwout arrived at the police station at 8:08 p.m. and was met in the lobby by an Haughwout attempted to turn and exit the station. The officer then attempted to restrain Haughwout in order to prevent his attempt to flee. As a result a physical altercation ensued between Haughwout and the officer. Other officers responded to assist in the apprehension of Haughwout. Haughwout was physically restrained by Haughwout in the lobby of the station, and he was eventually secured in handcuffs.
During the altercation, Haughwout physically assaulted two officers by striking and kicking at them repeatedly. The officers sustained minor injuries but did not require immediate medical attention.
Haughwout was brought to the cell area of the station where he began to exhibit symptoms of difficulty breathing. He was immediately transported to Middlesex Memorial Shoreline Clinic in Westbrook for evaluation. Once medically cleared, Haughwout was released from the clinic and returned to the Cilnton Police Station for processing on the criminal charges.
In addition to the charges from the outstanding warrant, Haughwout was charged with two counts of assault on an officer and a single count of interfering with an officer. He was held on a $20,000 bond and was arraigned at Middlesex Superiour Court on Thursday, July 23.
Clinton Police noted that Haughwout's outstanding warrant and subsequent arrest were unrelated to the FAA's probe into Haughwout's drone with an attached handgun.