East End DWI task force cops bust 13 in overnight holiday enforcement effort in Riverhead and Southampton towns

Officers in the district attorney’s East End DWI task force arrested 13 people in enforcement details in Riverhead and Southampton last night, police said in press releases issued this morning.

The following people were arrested in Riverhead:

John J. Piquette, 31, of Brooklyn was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree;

Kenneth M. Sawler, 34, of Riverhead, was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated;

Roger Foster, 19, of Baiting Hollow, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and unlawful possession of marijuana;

Robert Conners, 26, of Sayville, was charged with driving while intoxicated.

The following people were arrested in Southampton:

Elvin M Mendez, 21, of Mastic Beach, was charged with driving while impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana;

Abel Depaz, 25, of Hampton Bays, was charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a felony;

Maria Fransisco, 46, of Flanders was charged with driving while intoxicated;

Andre Baskin, 39, of Riverhead, was charged with driving while intoxicated;

William Debeauchamp, 61, of Smithtown, was charged with driving while intoxicated;

Michele Schutte, 33, of Yaphank, was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Southampton Town Police said they stopped 56 motorists and for screening overnight between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. and reported arresting three other people, two for outstanding warrants and a third for criminal possession of a weapon (a metal knuckle knife)in the fourth degree.

The East End DWI Task Force will continue stepped up enforcement details throughout the holiday season, according to police.

Police departments participating in the enforcement details last night were : Riverhead Town, Westhampton Beach, Quogue Village, Southampton Town, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and the Southampton Village.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.