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Southampton Blotter: Drunk driver faces two felony charges

A Westhampton Beach man was arrested Monday for drunk driving in Riverside, Southampton Town police said. 

Christopher Anderson, 21, was reportedly traveling north on Old Quogue Road around 1:50 a.m. with no headlights. Police said Mr. Anderson had bloodshot eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol. He performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests and was also circumventing an interlock device, officials said. He was taken to headquarters for processing and held for arraignment.

Mr. Anderson was charged with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction within 10 years, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both felonies, circumventing an interlock device, a misdemeanor, and two traffic violations.

• Police arrested a Mastic man for drunk driving in Riverside last Monday.

DeShawn Branker, 23, was reportedly committing multiple vehicle and traffic violations around 12:20 a.m. on Flanders Road. When stopped by police he allegedly smelled like alcohol and had red, glassy eyes and slurred speech. He performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests and failed a pre-screening breath test, police said.

Mr. Branker was charged with driving while intoxicated, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, both misdemeanors, and numerous traffic violations.

• A 33-year-old man was arrested in Flanders for drunk driving last Monday.

Benedicto Artola of Flanders was traveling north on Route 24 around 4:40 a.m. when he was allegedly stopped for driving 91 mph and moving unsafely from his lane. He was unsteady on his feet when police had him exit his car and he failed standard field sobriety tests, police said.

He was charged with DWI, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors, and multiple traffic violations.

• Police arrested a Flanders man Monday for drunk driving in Hampton Bays.

Fredy Giron, 31, was allegedly stopped around 8:50 a.m. after police received numerous calls of someone driving erratically northbound on Flanders Road. Mr. Giron was taken to headquarters, processed and arraigned at Southampton Justice Court. He was remanded to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bail, officials said.

Mr. Giron was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, both misdemeanors, and numerous violations.

• New York State Police arrested a Hauppauge man for drunk driving in Riverhead last Thursday.

Vincent Gomez, 25, was stopped for speeding while traveling east on Route 58 when police determined he was intoxicated, officials said. He was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, police said.

• State police arrested a Perth Amboy, N.J., woman for drunk driving in Flanders on Saturday.

Paola Luque, 35, was reportedly stopped while heading south on Route 24 for driving in the center turning lane when police determined she was intoxicated. She was charged with misdemeanor DWI.

• Southampton police arrested a 39-year-old man for driving with a suspended license in Riverside last Monday.

Salvador Allende of Riverhead was stopped for a traffic violation while headed north on Flanders Road near Cypress Avenue around 12:30 a.m., police said, when they learned he was driving with a suspended license.

He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and two traffic violations.

• A Flanders man was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Water Mill last Monday.

Gustavo Valenzuela, 38, was allegedly stopped for making an illegal turn around 8 a.m. on Diamon Court when police learned he had a suspended license and an active bench warrant from Southampton Town police.

Mr. Valenzuela was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. A delegated officer executed the bench warrant, police said.

• Police arrested a Riverhead man for driving with a suspended license in Flanders last Monday.

Russane Barrett, 23, was pulled over for a traffic violation around 8:30 a.m. on Pleasure Drive when police learned his license was suspended, officials said.

He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, and a traffic violation.

• A Riverhead man was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Water Mill last Monday.

Elmer Martinez, 31, was reportedly driving in the wrong direction on Strongs Lane around 9:10 p.m. when police learned he had a suspended license. His car allegedly also had switched plates.

Mr. Martinez was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and numerous traffic violations.

• Police arrested a Riverhead man for driving with a suspended license in Water Mill last Tuesday.

Edilser Figueroa, 28, was stopped for an illegal left-hand turn on Diamon Court around 7:55 a.m. when police learned his driving privileges were suspended, officials said.

Mr. Figueroa was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.