Man Charged With Dwai After Fleeing From Officer On Long Island, Police Say

A man was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs after he fled from a police officer in a motor vehicle, leading to a chase overnight on Long Island.

Joe Lombardi

09/14/2019 11:12 a.m.

This incident occurred Saturday, Sept. 14 in Shirley, Suffolk County Police said.

A Seventh Precinct patrol officer observed Thomas Celeste, 50, of Mastic, driving a 2002 Ford van erratically on Montauk Highway, west of William Floyd Parkway, at approximately 12:15 a.m., police said.

When the officer initiated a traffic stop, Celeste fled, according to police.

Police then say the van was tracked with aviation. A patrol officer used stop sticks to disable the vehicle at Route 112 and Horseblock Road in Medford. Celeste continued southbound on William Floyd Parkway from the Long Island Expressway, where the van came to a stop, and officers arrested him at approximately 1:40 a.m.

Celeste was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and unlawfully fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.

Celeste is due to be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.

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