Took Test On Third Request

There was just one alcohol-related arrest in all of East Hampton Town last week, that of Peter F. Grupe, 22, formerly of Oakdale but now of Northwest Woods.

A town police officer reported seeing Mr. Grupe, driving a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck, run a stop sign on Middle Highway in East Hampton at about midnight Friday and pulled him over. Mr. Grupe was not very cooperative, police reported, cursing repeatedly at the officer.

At headquarters in Wainscott, he initially refused to take the breath test. In such situations, a person is asked three times to take the test, each request following the one before it by 20 minutes. On the third and final request, Mr. Grupe consented.

Police said the test produced a reading of 0.17, just below the 0.18 level that would have raised the misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated to the aggravated level.

Mr. Grupe’s parents were in Justice Court on Saturday morning for their son’s arraignment. The young man likely did himself no favors with Justice Steven Tekulsky when, wondering if he could get a hardship license, he asked whether that was something “you guys” do.

“First of all, I am not one of ‘you guys,’ ” Justice Tekulsky responded.

The defendant was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Justice Tekulsky acknowledged that he was not planning to be arrested when he went out Friday night dressed like that, but warned him that in the future, “You will come to court dressed appropriately.”

Mr. Grupe was released without bail, but with a date on Justice Tekulsky’s criminal calendar