Crime & Safety
New Hyde Park Man Arrested for Driving Wrong Way, Drug DWI
Resident Walter Tortora allegedly had four Valium pills in his possession, admits to smoking marijuana.
New Your State Police arrested a New Hyde Park man early Sunday morning on charges of driving under the influence of drugs and driving on the wrong side of the road.
According to state troopers, 35-year-old Walter Tortora was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes on the Sunken Meadow Parkway near Pulaski Road at about 1:45 a.m.
State police observed Tortora’s gray Mini-Cooper driving southbound in the northbound lanes, coming to a slow stop between Pulaski Road and Route 25.
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While interviewing Tortora, troopers observed him to have bloodshot, watery eyes and impaired motor coordination. Tortora was allegedly also incoherent and had slurred speech and was placed under arrest for DWI.
Tortora later admitted to smoking marijuana and taking Valium earlier in the evening. A total of four Valium pills were also found in his possession.
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Charges of DWI drugs, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (A Misd.) and traffic violations were filed against Tortora in Suffolk County First District Court.
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