Police

Southampton Blotter: Flanders man with prior DWI conviction arrested

Southampton Town police arrested a Flanders man for driving while intoxicated in Riverside Sunday.

Jose Pineda-Medina, 28, was stopped for failing to stay in his lane around 2:45 a.m. near the Budget Host Inn on Lake Avenue, officials said. During further investigation police learned he was intoxicated, officials said.

He was charged with DWI with a prior conviction in the past 10 years and first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both felonies, and two violations.

• New York State Police arrested a Hampton Bays man for driving while intoxicated in Riverhead last Tuesday.

Alexander Matjan, 41, was stopped for speeding and an inoperative headlight on Route 58 and was later taken to the Riverside barracks, where he provided a breath sample of .15 percent BAC, officials said.

• A Riverhead man was arrested for driving while ability impaired by alcohol in Riverside.

Byron G. Nij Choy, 23, was stopped on County Route 104 for traffic violations. A breath test later revealed he had a BAC of .06 — under the legal limit of .08 for DWI, officials said.

• Two people were arrested for drug possession in Riverside last Thursday.

Dominique Cratch, 31, of Riverhead and James Nowack, 38, of Calverton were seen “in a known drug location” on Old Quogue Road around 11 a.m., Southampton Town officials said. Both were seen holding crack pipes containing crack cocaine and Mr. Nowack was reportedly seen smoking his, officials said. During a subsequent search, police allegedly found a quantity of crack cocaine in his left front pants pocket.

They were both charged with misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

• Police arrested a Flanders man for driving with a suspended license in Riverside last Friday.

James Fox, 35, was stopped while headed north on County Route 104 around 9:10 p.m. for not having a rear license plate lamp when police learned he had a suspended license, officials said.

Mr. Fox was charged with misdemeanor third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a violation.

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

Jose Gomez, 19, was stopped for an expired inspection around 3:50 p.m. on North Sea Road when police learned he had a suspended driver’s license, officials said.

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

• The rear driver’s side window of a car parked at the Flanders Community Center was reportedly smashed around 1:40 p.m. last Monday. Nothing was reported missing from the car, officials said.

• Someone called police last Thursday saying an unknown woman punched him in the face at the Valero gas station on Peconic Avenue in Riverside around 4:25 a.m., officials said. Police said the caller was “very uncooperative” and didn’t answer a return call. No one was located.

• A car parked on Flanders Road in Flanders last Thursday reportedly had its rear window and door damaged, with two drills removed from inside the vehicle, officials said. Damage to the car is estimated at over $250 and a PVC pipe was allegedly used to gain entry, officials said.

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.