5 Charged With DWI On Thanksgiving Eve In Suffolk: Sheriff

RIVERHEAD, NY — Five accused of drunken driving were arrested late Wednesday night into early Thanksgiving morning, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office said.

Among the five arrested was an Uber driver who said he was on his way to pick up a customer, the sheriff's office said. Deputies were out in force on Wednesday night, according to the office.

"Thanksgiving is a time to come together and give thanks with family and friends," Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. stated. "Unfortunately, that celebrating sometimes leads to poor choices and dangerous situations on our county’s roads. I commend my staff for their hard work in safely removing these impaired drivers from the streets so that those traveling for Thanksgiving can arrive safe and sound."

Below are the five arrested by deputies from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office:

• Ezio Casimirri Jr., 46, of Bellport, was driving approximately 80 MPH on Nicolls Road north of Greenbelt Parkway, the sheriff's office said. Casimirri Jr. told the deputy that he was a driver for Uber and was on his way to pick up his customer, the sheriff's office said. He was arrested and charged with DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of 0.10, the sheriff's office said.
• Melody Rivera, 46, of Holbrook, was stopped on Veterans Highway north of Sunrise Highway after she drove out of her lane and did not have her lights on at night, the sheriff's office said. Rivera was drunk, the sheriff's office said. She was arrested and charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. She consented to a breath test and registered a BAC of 0.21, the sheriff's office said.
• Luis Chavarria, 32, of Shirley, was stopped on Sunrise Highway by Hospital Road after making an unsafe lane change, the sheriff's office said. Chavarria was found to be drunk, the sheriff's office said. He was arrested and charged with DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of 0.16, the sheriff's office said.
• Rolando Lazo 53, of Patchogue, was stopped on North Ocean Avenue by Sunrise Highway after he went out of his lane, made an unsafe lane change and did not signal he was changing lanes, the sheriff's office said. Lazo was found to be drunk, the sheriff's office said. He was arrested and charged with DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of 0.16, the sheriff's office said.
• Thomas McCarthy, 21, of Lindenhurst, was stopped on North Ocean Avenue north of Roe Boulevard after running a stop sign, the sheriff's office said. He was found to be drunk, the sheriff's office said. He was arrested and charged with DWI, consented to a breath test, and registered a BAC of 0.15, the sheriff's office said.

Toulon, Jr. has recently taken to social media to remind residents, both young and old, to drink responsibly and have a designated driver or call for a ride if they have been drinking.