Cops Say He Tried to Get Away

Sag Harbor Village police charged a man they said left the scene of an accident with drunken driving last Thursday.

Joseph P. Houston, 63, of Shelter Island was driving a black truck when he allegedly hit a parked car on Route 114 at about 1:24 p.m. Police said he pulled away, struck a mailbox, and then hit the corner of the building at 112 Route 114 on the corner of Jermain Avenue. He then continued to try to get away and was physically removed from the truck, police said. 

According to the arresting officer, Mr. Houston smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage and appeared drunk. He was arrested at 1:25 p.m. and held overnight for morning arraignment. 

He was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, as his blood alcohol level was reportedly above .18, with leaving the scene of an accident, a violation, and refusing a pre-sceen breath test.