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WAPPINGER, N.Y. – A Peekskill man was arrested Saturday and charged with felony DWI under Leandra's Law, the New York State Police said.
Manuel C. Fernandez, 47, was arrested by state troopers about 1:10 p.m. on Route 9 and was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a felony.
State police said a trooper saw a 1997 Acura sedan being driven by Fernandez with three children and an adult in the rear seat. The trooper noticed that at least one child was not wearing a seat belt and stopped the vehicle south of Middlebush Road, police said. The trooper said Fernandez had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Fernandez failed field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath screening test, police said.
He was taken to the state police barracks in Wappinger, where a breath test indicated that he had a blood alcohol content of 0.14 percent, police said. He was charged under Leandra's Law because he had minors in the vehicle. He also was charged with failing to secure a child under 7 in a safety restraint, a violation.
Fernandez was arraigned in Wappinger Town Court, and bail was set at $500 cash, which he posted. He was ordered to return to court on Thursday.
The children were turned over to family members, and Child Protective Services was notified.
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