DWI Task Force Nets 9 Arrests in East Hampton Saturday Night

In its first organized effort of the summer season in the Town of East Hampton, the Suffolk County District Attorney's DWI Task Force brought in nine arrests over the Fourth of July weekend.

Captain Mike Sarlo said with the help of officers in the task force, the department levied seven driving while intoxicated charges, one driving while ability impaired arrest, and one marijuana possession charge.

As part of a ramped up anti-drunken driving campaign on the East End, police set up check points and put on extra patrols throughout the East End.

The enforcement is part of an initiative Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota launched before Memorial Day 2012 to crackdown on drunken drivers on the East End.

It is a multi-agency effort, with officers from various departments around the East End, including the Suffolk County Sheriffs, helping each host agency.

Among the arrests made on Saturday night and Sunday morning were the following (not all the reports were immediately available):

• August Moret, 44, of Greenwich, Conn., was arrested on a misdemeanor DWI charge after an accident in East Hampton on July 6. Police said Moret was driving a 2011 Audi north on North Main Street when he struck two vehicles — a 1999 Hyundai and a 2008 Lexus — parked on the side of the road at about 11:40 p.m. Responding officers said he appeared intoxicated and he was arrested. Held overnight for arraignment, he was released on $500 bail.

• Erik F. Schwab, 26, of Montauk, was arrested on aggravated DWI and marijuana possession charges after almost hitting the police officer on Edgemere Road in Montauk on July 7.

Police noticed a hazard and stopped to shine a light on the area at 4:10 a.m., before the officer got out of the squad car to remove it. As he was doing so a vehicle driving by almost struck him and the object. The officer got back in his car and started following the vehicle, which crossed over the solid double yellow line into the opposite lane, police said. The officer pulled the driver over and he appeared intoxicated. His blood alcohol level was allegedly above .18, leading to the aggravated charge.

The officer also said he smelled marijuana, and saw a small black canister that contained a green leafy substance, which later tested positive for marijuana, on the back seat. He was additionally charged with a violation.

Following arraignment, he was released on $500 bail.

• William F. Balsamo, 53, of Stony Brook, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation in the third-degree, both misdemeanors, in East Hampton on July 7 at about 3 a.m. Police said he failed to dim his high-beam lights as he was driving west on Pantigo Road at about 2:40 a.m. Justice Cahill released him on $300 bail.

• Ronald Weiss, 52, of Great Neck, was arrested on a misdemeanor drunken driving charge in Amagansett on July 7. According to police, 911 dispatchers received word about an erratic driver. Officers saw a gray sport utility vehicle, matching the description, heading west on Montauk Highway and driving off the roadway. He was stopped near Abraham's Landing Road at about 12:05 a.m. He failed field sobriety tests, and was arrested. Justice Cahill released him on $500 bail.

• Michael Milyavsky, 38, of Yorktown Heights, NY, was arrested on a misdemeanor DWI charge in East Hampton on July 7. Police said he was heading north on Springs Fireplace Road when he swerved into the southbound lane at about 3:30 a.m. He was stopped near Spinner Lane, and police said he appeared drunk. Held for arraignment, Justice Cahill released him on $500 bail.