Police say a Bloomfield driver hit a utility pole in Bloomfield in late March, breaking it off at the ground, then left the scene without reporting the damage.

A criminal case was filed against Theodore J. Townsend, 32, Bloomfield, last Friday, April 17.

Townsend is facing a preliminary charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a Class B misdemeanor.

Deputy Marshal Wayman JR Blazier of the Bloomfield Police Department was dispatched to an area near the intersection of West Main Street and North Lewis Street around 7:11 p.m. back on Thursday, March 26.

When he arrived, Officer Blazier found a utility pole owned by AT&T had been hit and broken off at the ground. He said the pole was being held up in the air by a guide wire. A witness said the vehicle that hit the pole left heading east on West Main.

When Officer Blazier checked with the manager of the nearby Dairy Queen, he learned they have video surveillance of the intersection. Reviewing the video, Officer Blazier identified Townsend as the driver of a bronze 2017 Kia that hit the pole.

Officer Blazier reported the video showed Townsend placing an order at the drive-through, picking up the order then leaving the lot turning onto Main Street, running off the roadway and hitting the pole. Townsend allegedly backed away from the pole then drove off.

Officer Blazier said he attempted to contact Townsend with no success.