SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MAKES TWO AGGRAVATED DWI ARRESTS OVER THE WEEKEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: July 10, 2023

SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MAKES TWO AGGRAVATED DWI ARRESTS OVER THE WEEKEND

*** Arrests Part of Enhanced Summer DWI Enforcement Effort ***

(Riverhead, NY) The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office DWI Enforcement Team made two Aggravated DWI arrests over the past weekend.

On July 7, 2023, at approximately 11:19 PM, Deputy Sheriffs observed a vehicle traveling 93 mph on Sunrise Highway in Islip, NY. The vehicle was also observed drifting out of the lane of travel, tailgating other motorists, and unsafely changing lanes. Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver, Latoya Smith, 36, of Shirley, NY, demonstrated clues while performing standardized field sobriety tests indicating she was intoxicated. She was arrested and transported to Suffolk County Sheriff's Office's Station 1 where she submitted to a chemical breath test resulting in a .19 BAC.

On July 9, 2023, at approximately 3:44 AM, Deputy Sheriffs observed a vehicle traveling 100 mph eastbound on the Long Island Expressway east of exit 58 in Ronkonkoma, NY. When the Deputies caught up to the driver, he was observed unsafely changing lanes from the right to the left lane without signaling and then accelerating to and traveling at 115 mph in a 55 mph zone west of exit 60. Deputies stopped Austin Garay, 21, of Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, who demonstrated clues while performing standardized field sobriety tests that indicated he was intoxicated. Garay was arrested and transported to Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Station 1 where he submitted to a chemical breath test resulting in a .23 BAC.

Both drivers were charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated due to the high alcohol content in their blood. Smith was over two times the legal limit of .08%, while Garay was almost three times the legal limit. They were also charged with various other violations of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Laws.

These arrests were made as part of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office “The Heat is On” summer impaired driving enforcement effort. Beginning the July 4 holiday weekend, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has increased DWI patrols and checkpoints, from Huntington to the Hamptons, and will continue all summer long to keep Suffolk’s roadways safe during one of the deadliest times of the year. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office DWI team has already had record high impaired driving arrests this year, with a nearly 40% increase in DWI/DUI arrests from 2022.

Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. commends his deputies for their hard work and dedication to keeping Suffolk County safe. “The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office DWI Enforcement Team is scouring Suffolk’s roadways looking for impaired drivers. These two individuals were well over the legal limit for driving while intoxicated and I thank my Deputies for removing them from the driver’s seat before they hurt themselves or other innocent drivers. Remember: Drive under the influence this summer, and you will end up in handcuffs.”

For more information on the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, please visit www.SuffolkSheriff.com.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED COURTESY OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE