The arrest of John Zarcone, an attorney and the scion of one of Putnam County's best-known political families, on charges of cocaine possession and threatening to kill his wife has shocked the many people who know him from public life.

The aggressive, tough-talking lawyer who shaped development in his town as leader of its Planning Board was arrested Sunday night by Putnam County sheriff's deputies.

Zarcone, 45, was accused of having cocaine and hydrocodone, a narcotic painkiller contained in prescription drugs such as Vicodin, as well as calling and verbally abusing his wife before threatening to kill her.

Zarcone released a brief written statement shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, sent via fax from his law office. It said that he had turned himself in to police and had "now placed myself in a rehabilitation facility."

"I am fortunate to have the support of my loving wife and children in this difficult time," he said. "I look forward to overcoming this problem and resuming a normal life."

His mother, Marie Zarcone, also an influential figure in Republican Party circles, denied yesterday that her son had drugs on him at the time of his arrest. She also said he had checked himself into a treatment program. She refused to give further details.

"This is a domestic situation, and this is a first offense," she said. "He is seeking the medical help he needs, and he will be exonerated."