North Fork Man Charged With Felony DWI Also Had Cocaine: Police

CUTCHOGUE, NY — A Southold man was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Cutchogue Saturday, police said.

According to Southold Town police, the incident took place at 6 p.m. on Depot Lane. A report came in about a vehicle failing to maintain its lane; officers found the vehicle in question and initiated a traffic stop, police said.

Melvin Alvarado-Ortega, 33, was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle; he had bloodshot glassy eyes, was unsteady on his feet, and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his mouth, police said. Alvarado-Ortega also performed poorly on his standardized field sobriety tests, police said.

Upon a custody search, he was found to also be in the possession of cocaine, police said.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI: per se-1 prior; DWI, previous conviction in 10 years, a felony; using a vehicle without an interlock; second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; failing to use designate lane; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; and driving without a license, police said.

Alvarado-Ortega was transported to police headquarters to be processed and await morning arraignment, police said.