Cops: Four men nabbed on DWI charges
Four men were arrested on drunken driving charges overnight, including three who allegedly crashed their vehicles while drunk, town police said.
Bail for the men — three of whom told Judge Allen Smith that they were undocumented immigrants — was set at $1,000 cash.
In the first incident, 23-year-old Antonio Silvestre-Allende of Riverhead crashed a 1997 Pontiac into a pole on County Route 105 at Sound Avenue about 7:40 p.m. Saturday, according to the charges read aloud in court Sunday. When stopped by an officer, Mr. Silvestre-Allende’s eyes were “bloodshot and glazed,” Judge Smith said.
The man couldn’t keep his balance, his speech was slurred and he “smelled of an alcoholic beverage,” Judge Smith added. Authorities said Mr. Silvestre-Allende refused to take a sobriety test and was driving without a license.
He was arrested at the scene and charged with misdemeanor DWI.
Mr. Silvestre-Allende told the court Sunday morning that he has been living in Riverhead for the past five years and works for a Jamesport greenhouse company. He emigrated from Mexico seven years ago, he said through a translator.
Mr. Silvestre-Allende was held on cash bail.
About five hours after Mr. Silvestre-Allende crashed, another alleged drunken driver crashed in Riverhead before trying to flee the scene on foot, police said.
Carl Hill, 29, of Riverhead crashed into a tree on Osborne Avenue at 1:11 a.m., authorities said. He immediately ran from the scene and was tracked down by Riverhead police six minutes later on Harrison Avenue, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Mr. Hill was charged with misdemeanor DWI and leaving the scene of an accident, and was held on cash bail.
Police said roughly an hour and a half after Mr. Hill crashed, a third man was arrested after he fled the scene of a car accident while drunk.
Jose Amaya, 24, of Flanders allegedly crashed into another vehicle on Old Country Road near Kroemer Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
When interviewed by a police officer after the accident, Mr. Amaya admitted he consumed 10 beers before getting in his car, according to the charges read aloud in court. His breath smelled like alcohol and he refused to take a sobriety test, police said.
He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. His license was suspended, Judge Smith said.
Mr. Amaya, a native of El Salvador, told Judge Smith through a translator that he had been living in the U.S. for eight years. He has been working as a tree cutter for a company in Southampton, he said in court.
One hour after Mr. Amaya was arrested, Pedro Vincente, 24, of Westhampton was caught driving drunk near the Roanoke traffic circle, town police said.
Mr. Vincente was pulled over at 3:28 a.m. after an officer spotted him driving out of his lane twice, Judge Smith said. Police saw his eyes were red and watery and his speech was slurred. He was unsteady on his feet and failed a sobriety test, authorities said. His license was also suspended.
Mr. Vincente was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and arraigned Sunday morning. He spoke through a translator and told Judge Smith that he worked for a company in Southold and had come to the U.S. from Guatemala five years ago.
Both Mr. Vincente and Mr. Amaya posted bail after their court appearances, authorities said.
