Southampton Blotter: Traffic stop leads to felony arrest in Riverside

Southampton Town police arrested an East Patchogue man for driving while ability impaired by drugs in Riverside Saturday.

After Charles Austin, 46, was stopped for having a broken tail light around 7 a.m. near Flanders Road and Kirk Avenue, police learned his license was suspended, officials said. After conducting a field sobriety test, police also discovered he was under the influence of drugs, officials said.

He was charged with first degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a felony, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, both misdemeanors, and two traffic violations.

• A Riverhead man was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Flanders Sunday.

Angel Martinez, 39, was involved in a motor vehicle accident with no injuries around 11:30 p.m. on Flanders Road. During the investigation police learned Mr. Martinez was intoxicated, officials said.

He was charged with felony DWI since he had a prior conviction.

• Police arrested a Calverton man for driving while intoxicated in Riverhead Sunday.

Joseph Booker, 44, was seen driving on Peconic Avenue near the Riverside traffic circle with no plate lamp around 1 a.m. and was later pulled over on West Main Street, officials said. When Mr. Booker saw the officer leave his car, he allegedly put the car in drive and drove a short distance, turning off West Main Street and into the parking lot by the Joe’s Garage restaurant. When he was pulled over again, he was belligerent toward the officers and was then removed from the car and handcuffed, officials said.

Mr. Booker, whom police said smelled strongly of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes, initially refused standard field sobriety tests. He later consented to a roadside test, which he failed, officials said.

He was charged with DWI and second-degree obstructing governmental administration, both misdemeanors, and two violations.

• A Calverton man was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Northampton last Tuesday.

After Steven Reid, 20, was stopped for speeding around 8:30 p.m. near Wildwood Bowling Lanes on Lake Avenue, police learned his license was suspended, officials said.

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

• A Flanders resident reported his driver’s license and insurance card were stolen from an unlocked car in his Oak Avenue driveway sometime overnight last Thursday or Friday, 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.