GUILDERLAND — A state trooper was sideswiped on Western Avenue Monday evening by Joshua Maxwell-Tew of Guilderland, who was, state police say, impaired by drugs; the trooper was not injured.

The trooper, who is not being identified by police, was headed west on Route 20 and was waiting at a red light at the intersection with Schoolhouse Road when a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Maxwell-Tew came up from behind and tried to enter the left-turn lane, to turn onto Schoolhouse, but hit the police car, according to spokeswoman Trooper Kerra M. Burns.

A drug-recognition expert was called to the scene, Burns said, and found Maxwell-Tew, 21, of Guilderland, to be impaired. He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor.

Maxwell-Tew was also found with Xanax, which contains the Schedule IV depressant Alprazolam, and was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

His passenger, 20-year-old Zachary Bemis, of Altamont, was found with Xanax and marijuana, state police say, and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

Both men are due in Guilderland Town Court on Oct. 25.

— Elizabeth Floyd Mair