Over the past weekend, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested five impaired drivers for driving while intoxicated (DWI). One of these drivers was charged with aggravated DWI as one driver fled the scene speeding, and multiple drivers had high blood alcohol count (BAC.) These arrests were among six drivers arrested over the last week, including an additional arrest for street racing.
As part of ongoing DWI enforcement by the Sheriff’s Office, deputies are always out patrolling for those who are making poor choices when it comes to driving home. Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. has increased DWI enforcement and has taken to social media to remind residents, young and old, to drink responsibly and have a designated driver or call for a ride if they have been drinking.
Toulon thanks his deputies for their hard work. “I commend my staff for their hard work in safely removing these impaired and dangerous drivers from our streets so residents who drive responsibly can arrive home safe.”
AGGRAVATED DWI
On April 20, Maria Vendetti, 58, left her car in the roadway. When deputies went to check on the vehicle, stopped in the roadway the driver, Vendetti, 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. She was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, due to her suspended license, and multiple traffic infractions.
STREET RACING ARREST
On April 22, Suffolk Sheriff’s deputies observed two vehicles, an Infiniti G35 and a black Mercedes sedan engaging in a street race on the LIE North Service Road east of Holbrook Road. The deputy managed to stop the Infiniti, although the Mercedes fled the scene. The driver of the Infiniti, Elahi Faizan, 21, of Bronx was issued an appearance ticket for unlawful speed contest, as well as summonses for driving too slow/impeding traffic and speeding. The driver’s vehicle was also subject to impound for engaging in a speed contest.
ADDITIONAL DWI ARRESTS INCLUDE
Ricardo Viera, 40, of Islip Terrace, on April 20, 2024, was stopped while traveling on Sunrise Highway by exit 52 in North Patchogue, for failure to maintain lane and speeding. He demonstrated clues while performing standardized field sobriety tests indicating he was intoxicated. Viera was arrested and submitted to a chemical breath test resulting in a .12 BAC.
Kera Stellato, 41, of Lindenhurst, on April 20, 2024, was stopped while traveling on Sunrise Highway by exit 48, in Bohemia, for failing to maintain a single lane of travel by swerving over the lines separating lanes of travel in the roadway. She was found to be intoxicated. Stellato was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .10.
Satya Bhanu Rohith Kesani, 32, of Holtsville, on April 22, 2024, was stopped while traveling on the Long Island Expressway, South Service Road, by Nicholls Road, for speeding, at approximately 100 miles per hour, and for failing to maintain a single lane of travel by swerving over the lines separating lanes of travel in the roadway, and failure to use signal light when switching lanes. He was found to be intoxicated. Satya was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .10.
Kursat Erdemirt, 40, of Lake Grove, on April 21, 2024, was stopped while traveling on Patchogue-Holbrook Rd. by Union Ave for speeding and driving with expired registration. was found to be intoxicated. Kursat was arrested for DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of .11.
All information contained in this release has been provided for general informational purposes only. To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.