Arrests Begin to Increase as Summer Nears

The season started a week early on local roads, with a noticeable increase in the number of drunken-driving arrests. One man, who was released from the county jail on Tuesday after spending five days there, faces felony charges.

James P. Barrett of East Hampton, 34, was pulled over on Wainscott Northwest Road near Montauk Highway early Thursday morning; the arresting officer said his 1998 Ford was swerving back and forth onto the shoulder. The East Hampton Town Police Department is headquartered on that same road, which is heavily traveled by police.

Mr. Barrett, who was convicted of driving while intoxicated in Southampton in 2010, failed roadside sobriety tests, police said. He was taken to headquarters, where a breath test reportedly produced a reading of .17, over twice the legal limit.

Because of the previous D.W.I. conviction, he was charged with a felony, as well as a felony charge of unlicensed driving; his driving privileges have been suspended twice. He was arraigned later Thursday morning before East Hampton Justice Lisa R. Rana, who set bail at $2,000 cash. Mr. Barrett could not post bail and was taken to jail.

In felony cases, a defendant must be indicted within five days of being arrested, or be released. Indictments in felony D.W.I. cases not involving accidents or injuries frequently take several weeks. Mr. Barrett is free for now, but has a future date in court.

Three other men were charged with aggravated D.W.I. Jason B. Dierick, who told Justice Steven Tekulsky during his arraignment Sunday that he had just moved to Montauk to work for the season, was pulled over on West Lake Drive there earlier that morning; police said he had swerved several times into the oncoming lane. His breath test was said to have registered .22; a reading of .18 or higher leads to the elevated misdemeanor charge.

When it came time to set bail, Justice Tekulsky said that while Mr. Dierick appeared to have no prior arrests, he also had no roots in the community. “You just got here,” the justice said, setting bail at $250.

John A. Lakotta, 42, of West Gilgo Beach was also stopped for swerving, also in Montauk, early Friday morning on Edgemere Road near Industrial Road. He too produced a breath-test reading of .22, police said. He has few ties here, said Justice Rana as she set bail at $500. She noted that he did have a prior D.W.I. arrest, but it was back in 1996 and the charge was reduced to a simple violation.

She asked the man if he would be able to post bail. “If my friend gets here. He’s on his way,” he answered. The friend arrived just as an officer was about to take Mr. Lakotta back to headquarters, and Mr. Lakotta was soon out of handcuffs and free to leave. He will be back in court at a future date.

The third man whose breath test produced a high reading was Monte Roberto Albers de Leon, 37, an attorney from New York. Police said his blood-alcohol level was .20. He was arrested late Friday night after his 2015 Cadillac was in a one-car accident on Woodcrest Drive in Springs. Police said they found him seated behind the wheel of his car, seat belt on, keys in the ignition.

Mr. Albers de Leon was recently married. While he does not have local roots, his partner does, he said during his arraignment. Justice Tekulsky asked if he would be hiring an attorney. “Yes,” he answered, and he was freed without bail to await his day in court.

Two women with readings just above the legal limit were involved in separate minor automobile accidents Saturday night, within an hour of each other, leading to their arrests on D.W.I. charges.

Mary E. Henning of Kings Park, 53, was in an accident on South Emerson Avenue in downtown Montauk a little after 9 p.m., while Christine M. Moran of Springs, 44, hit a parked car on Cooper Lane in East Hampton. Their respective breath tests were .10 and .11, according to police, low enough that their lawyers may be able to obtain reduced charges, though the district attorney’s office will also take the accidents into account.

Another driver with a reading just over the .08 level was Jose N. Reyes, 25, of Springs, who was arrested on May 10. His number was .09. He was also charged with unlicensed driving.

Finally, there was the arrest of Deryn Trott of Montauk, on South Fairview Avenue there, just after midnight Sunday. Police said her alcohol level was .15. Rita Bonicelli of the Brill Legal Group, Ms. Trott’s lawyer, was on hand for her arraignment Monday morning and presented the court with an application for a hardship license. Justice Tekulsky read it and granted the request.

Hardship licenses are narrow in scope, generally allowing the holder to drive to and from work only. Ms. Trott was freed without bail but with a future court date.