Man Charged With DWI In Riverhead Caught With Handgun In Vehicle: PD

RIVERHEAD, NY — A man who was involved in a minor crash at a Riverhead railroad crossing was driving while intoxicated — and had a 9 mm., semi-automatic handgun in his vehicle, police said.

According to Riverhead Town police, on Saturday at 5:26 p.m., Matthew R. White, 49, of Phoenix, Arizona, committed a traffic offense and then was involved in a minor motor vehicle crash with the railroad crossing and failed to stop.

He was subsequently arrested and had his vehicle impounded due to a prior DWI conviction, police said.

During the investigation, the handgun was found inside his vehicle, police said. He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; criminal possession of a firearm; aggravated DWI; and numerous traffic infractions, including driving without an interlock device, police said. White was held for arraignment, police said.