SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — A Riverhead man charged with felony driving while intoxicated Friday had three prior DWI convictions, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon said.
Deputies working a DWI checkpoint in Southampton Town saw Juan Ochoa, 34, enter the checkpoint and display evidence while performing standardized field sobriety tests indicating he was intoxicated, Toulon said.
He was arrested and taken to Suffolk County Sheriff's Headquarters, where he submitted to a chemical breath test that resulted in a blood alcohol content of 0.11, Toulon said.
Ochoa had three prior DWI convictions in 2011, 2020 and 2022. He was also driving without an ignition interlock device installed or present in the vehicle, according to the restriction on his driver's license, the sheriff said.
He was arrested and charged with felony DWI because of his three prior convictions for DWI, bypassing a court-ordered interlock device, driving with a suspended license and other vehicle and traffic law violations, Toulon said.
He was one of seven arrested over the holiday weekend across the county and charged with DWI by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office.
“The Suffolk County Sheriff's DWI Enforcement Team patrols the streets of Suffolk looking for impaired drivers. These impaired individuals were a danger to themselves and others and I thank my deputies for removing them from the driver's seat before they caused a holiday tragedy,” Toulon said “Deputies will continue to be on the lookout for impaired drivers over the New Year's Eve weekend, so plan ahead before spending the New Year in the Suffolk County Jail.”
