Drug Bust Suspect Charged With D.W.I.

While free on bail and awaiting sentencing on a conspiracy charge related to an August drug bust in Montauk, Kevin L. Becker, 30, was arrested on a felony drunken-driving charge on Friday.

East Hampton Town police said they saw Mr. Becker driving a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado east on Montauk Highway in Montauk at about 1 a.m., when he failed to keep right. When stopped, he appeared intoxicated and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, police said. A check with the State Department of Motor Vehicles showed he had two previous driving-while-intoxicated convictions, the first in October 2010 in East Hampton and the second in April of 2015 elsewhere in Suffolk County. He was turned over to the Suffolk County sheriff’s office after being arraigned by East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky. 

Mr. Becker was among 17 men charged in Montauk on Aug. 15 as part of a major cocaine ring by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force. He was charged with conspiracy in the second degree and was released after his family posted $10,000 bail. He remained free following his arraignment in Suffolk County Criminal Court on Aug. 28, online records show. He pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy in the fourth degree, a felony, that day and is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 31.  

Sag Harbor Village police charged a driver with felony drunken driving on Friday. Jefferson P. Pulla Duchitanga, 22, of Sag Harbor was arrested at 2:05 p.m. following an accident. Police said they received a report that a white pickup truck had hit a parked vehicle and was headed south on Hampton Street. While officers searched the area, they received another call that a truck fitting the description was driving erratically north on Hampton Street. Officers found a 2014 Toyota Tacoma swerving in and out of the shoulder, they said, stopping the vehicle near Walker Avenue. Police said they realized immediately that he was intoxicated. 

Mr. Pulla Duchitanga had been convicted of D.W.I. in August of 2017 and his driving privileges were still revoked. He was also supposed to have an Interlock device if he got his license back. 

He was charged with felony D.W.I., aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, also a felony, leaving the scene of an accident, a violation, and two traffic infractions. He was held on $7,500 cash or $15,000 bond. 

Village police also arrested Jasmin E. Flores, 21, of East Hampton on Sunday. Police said they saw a 2004 Jeep Liberty heading east on Hampton Street when the driver failed to maintain her lane and drove onto the shoulder. An officer stopped her vehicle at 262 Hampton Street and said she appeared drunk. She was arrested at 1:36 a.m. and charged with misdemeanor D.W.I. She was released on her own recognizance following arraignment.

On Monday, Svitlana Zhukovska, 29, of Brooklyn was arrested on a misdemeanor aggravated driving-while-intoxicated charge in East Hampton. A report from town police said she was driving west on Pantigo Road, near Pantigo Place, in a 2016 Honda at about 1:25 a.m., when she swerved over the fog line. Her blood alcohol level was allegedly above .18, which led to the aggravated D.W.I. misdemeanor charge. East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana released her on her own recognizance.