SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MAKES FIVE DWI ARRESTS ON THANKSGIVING EVE

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: November 25, 2021

***** ALLEGED UBER DRIVER ARRESTED FOR DWI PICKING UP FARE

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(RIVERHEAD, NY) Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested five impaired drivers for Driving While Intoxicated on late Wednesday night into early Thanksgiving morning. As part of ongoing DWI enforcement by the Sheriff’s Office, Deputies were out in force on what many commonly refer to as “Amateur Night.”

The night before Thanksgiving is historically a night where college students are home and get together with old friends. Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. has recently taken to social media to remind residents, young and old, to drink responsibly and have a designated driver or call for a ride if you have been drinking. Unfortunately, one of those arrested last night included a driver who claimed to work for Uber on his way to pick up someone who was doing the right thing and calling for a ride.

ALLEGED UBER DRIVER ARRESTED

Ezio Casimirri Jr., 46, of Bellport, was stopped for speeding--approx. 80 MPH--on Nicolls Road north of Greenbelt Parkway. Mr. Casimirri reported to the Deputy that he was a driver for Uber and was on his way to pick up his customer. He was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .10.

AGGRAVATED DWI

Melody Rivera, 46, of Holbrook, was stopped on Veterans Highway north of Sunrise Highway for failure to maintain lane and not having lights activated at night. Ms. Rivera was found to be intoxicated. She was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .21. Due to the high BAC, she was charged with Aggravated DWI.

ADDITIONAL DWI ARRESTS INCLUDE:

Luis Chavarria, 32, of Shirley, was stopped on Sunrise Highway by Hospital Road for making an unsafe lane change. Mr. Chavarria was found to be intoxicated. He was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .16.

Rolando Lazo 53, of Patchogue, was stopped on North Ocean Ave. by Sunrise Highway for failure to maintain lane, unsafe lane change, and failure to signal a lane change. Mr. Lazo was found to be intoxicated. He was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .16.

Thomas McCarthy 21, of Lindenhurst, was stopped on North Ocean Avenue north of Roe Blvd for running a stop sign. Mr. McCarthy was found to be intoxicated. He was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .15.

Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. thanks his Deputies for their hard work. “Thanksgiving is a time to come together and give thanks with family and friends. Unfortunately, that celebrating sometimes leads to poor choices and dangerous situations on our county’s roads. I commend my staff for their hard work in safely removing these impaired drivers from the streets so that those traveling for Thanksgiving can arrive safe and sound.”

For more information, please contact Sgt. Paul Spinella at (631) 852-3405 or paul.spinella@suffolkcountyny.gov.

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