Cops: Drunken Driver Sideswipes Police Car Making Routine Traffic Stop

The following information was supplied by the Southampton Town Police Department. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does not indicate guilt.

Eastport

A Center Moriches man is accused of driving drunk on Nov. 30 after police said he sideswiped a marked police car that was performing a traffic stop on Montauk Highway in Eastport. According to police, Jhony Morente, 29, was driving a 1998 Ford near the intersection of Montauk Highway and Bay Avenue North at around 1:30 a.m. when he struck the police car. Police said they noticed an odor of alcohol on his breath and that he had slurred speech, bloodshot, glassy eyes and was unsteady on his feet.

Police conducted a field sobriety test, which he failed, and he blew a .18 on a breathalyzer test. Police said Morente also had multiple open Corona bottles in his vehicle and that he was driving on a revoked license without a court-required Interlock device. He was arrested at the scene and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, second-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, circumventing an interlock device, moving lanes unsafely, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle, all violations.

Hampton Bays

• Mark Gibson, 59, of Hampton Bays, was arrested on a drunken driving charge on Nov. 28. According to police, Gibson was driving a 2006 GMC on Shinnecock Road and was stopped near Lynn Avenue after police observed him failing to maintain his lane. When questioned, police said they noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and that he had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He also performed poorly on a field sobriety test. He was arrested and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, moving lanes unsafely and failing to keep right, both violations.

• Carolina Penteado, 29, of Hampton Bays, was arrested on Nov. 27 on a drunken driving charge. According to police, Penteado was speeding west down Montauk Highway without headlights and weaving in and out of her lane while driving a 2011 Nissan at around 11 p.m. Police said she then made a left-hand turn onto Springville Road without signaling and was eventually pulled over by police. When questioned, police said she was found to be intoxicated. She was arrested and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, speeding, insufficient lights, improper use of signals, failing to keep right and operating in violation of restrictions, all violations.

Flanders

A Riverhead man was arrested on Nov. 27 in connection with a break-in at Charlie’s Quality Collision on County Route 104 in Flanders. According to police, Brian Flores, 20, was taken into custody at around 10 p.m. after he allegedly broke into the business moments before.

At around 9:50 p.m., police responded to an automatic alarm at Charlie’s and discovered the forced entry. Police searched the interior of the business and the surrounding area with the help of New York State Police and a Suffolk County Sheriff’s K-9 unit. After a continued search, police said they found Flores nearby. Police were unable to determine what, if anything, had been stolen.

Flores was charged with third-degree burglary, a felony. He was released on $1,500 bail on Nov. 28.

• Jose Nunez, 26, of Flanders was arrested on Nov. 27 on a drunken driving charge. According to police, Nunez was driving a 2004 Nissan Altima west on Flanders Road at around 8 p.m. when he passed a Southampton Town police officer traveling east on the same road. The officer turned around and got behind Nunez. That’s when the officer noticed he was weaving out of his lane. Nunez was stopped and given a field sobriety test, which he failed. He was arrested and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor.

• A Riverhead man was arrested on Nov. 26 on a marijuana possession charge after police said he was driving on a license that had been revoked 13 times. According to police the 32-year-old man was driving a 1995 Ford pickup truck on Flanders Road at around 3:50 a.m. when he was stopped for a broken plate lamp. Police said when he was questioned they detected a strong odor of marijuana in vehicle. After a search, police found a quantity of the drug in his possession and discovered that his license was revoked on previous alcohol-related charges. He was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors, unlawful possession of marijuana, a broken plate lamp, and having an expired inspection sticker, all violations.