Four EH Arrests For Impaired Driving

East Hampton Town police made four arrests this past week on drunk or drugged driving charges. Two of the men arrested are facing felonies.

Gennaro Viteritti, 52, of Bohemia, was pulled over on Springy Banks Road in Northwest Woods early on May 29. Police said he was driving a 2007 Chrysler at a speed of 50 mph in a 30-mph zone. The arresting officer reported that Viteritti was sweating profusely, his speech was rambling, and he appeared agitated. Ordered to step out of the car, “he collapsed to the ground,” the officer reported. “I took a few puffs on the pipe, and popped Xanax,” Viteritti is quoted as telling her.

The charge he is facing, driving with ability impaired by drugs, is a felony because he was convicted on a drunk driving charge in October 2014.

After the arrest, police searched Viteritti’s vehicle, finding five small plastic baggies in a backpack. “That’s crystal meth,” Viteritti allegedly said. Police also said they found three glass pipes on the floor. Aside from the felony, police tacked on two misdemeanor possession charges.

Unable to post $2500 bail, Viteritti spent the next five days in county jail. Because he was not indicted by a grand jury within that five-day period, he was released without having to post bail, and will be due back in court at a later date.

Luis Parra-Gomez, 32, of Springs, was driving a 2008 Honda north on Three Mile Harbor Road early Saturday morning when he failed to dim his headlights for an oncoming patrol car, leading to a traffic stop and an arrest on drunk driving charges. Because he was convicted of driving while intoxicated as a misdemeanor last year, the new charge is a felony. Parra-Gomez was hit with a second felony for driving on a revoked license following last year’s conviction, police said.

After he pleaded guilty last year, he was fined by Justice Lisa Rana $1000, plus a surcharge of $400. According to East Hampton Town Justice Court records, Parra-Gomez has not paid that fine. Justice Rana issued a warrant for his arrest June 12 of last year.

During his arraignment later that morning, he was represented by Carl Irace, who told East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky that Parra-Gomez had $3000 he could put toward bail. Justice Tekulsky was dubious. He pointed out that Parra-Gomez had never paid his fine. Additionally, he said, Parra-Gomez continued to drive, despite not having a license, and despite the fact that Justice Rana had previously revoked his driving privilege. “He does what he wants to do,” Justice Tekulsky said, as he set bail at $5000.

Peter Williams, 46, was arrested May 30 after police said he was driving a 2004 Hyundai erratically in downtown Montauk. At headquarters, he refused to take the breath test. “I will ride one of my three bicycles around now,” he allegedly told police. Justice Tekulsky suspended his license for the next year for his refusal to take the test. An Australian working as a bartender in Montauk, he was asked by the judge if he planned on returning to Australia this year. “Not if I don’t have to,” Williams replied. He posted $500 bail.

The final arrest of the week on DWI charges made by town police was that of Mia Fugosic, 34. Fugosic was driving a rented 2018 Ford Focus west on Main Street in Amagansett a little before midnight when police said they stopped her for speeding. The Queens resident was charged with misdemeanor DWI and released on her own recognizance Monday morning with a future date on the East Hampton Town Justice Court calendar.

There was one DWI arrest on Shelter Island this week. Antonio Villanueva-Avile, 40, of Aguada, Puerto Rico, was arrested early Thursday morning. He was charged as a first-time offender at the misdemeanor level. Villanueva-Avile was held until he was arraigned later that day and released without bail.

tom.e@indyeastend