By Desirée Keegan
The Suffolk County Police Department Highway Patrol Bureau, assisted by the New York State Police, arrested 14 people and seized one vehicle during an overnight sobriety checkpoint in Port Jefferson Station June 30.
Police officers from the SCPD highway patrol were assisted by New York State Troopers in conducting a sobriety checkpoint at the corner of Route 112 and Hallock Avenue. The checkpoint was conducted as part of an on-going July 4th holiday enforcement operation for the prevention of injuries and fatalities associated with driving while ability impaired by alcohol and drugs. A total of 716 vehicles went through the checkpoint.
The following people were charged with driving while intoxicated:
- Sandra Ventre, 50, of Port Jefferson
- Robert Paddock, 28, of Stony Brook
- John Young, 40, of Centereach
- Jeffrey Gerlin, 57, of Centereach
The following was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs:
- Nicholas Cappelletti, 31, of Centereach
The following was charged with driving while ability impaired by a combined influence of alcohol and drugs and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance:
- Justin Maldonado, 24, of New Jersey
The following was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance:
- Justin Wienckowski, 23, of Commack
Ventre’s vehicle was seized due to a prior DWI conviction. The individuals were be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip July 1. Additionally, six individuals were arrested for unlawful possession of marijuana and issued field appearance tickets and will be arraigned on a later date.
This post was updated Feb. 12, 2018 to remove an accused person whose charges were dropped after pleading guilty.
