Two drivers were charged with felonies in Sag Harbor over the Fourth of July weekend.
Jaime E. Escalante, 64, a resident of the village, was arrested on Friday morning after fleeing from a police pursuit and crashing into the front steps of the Old Whalers Church.
A patrolling officer saw Mr. Escalante pass a Vespa in an unsafe manner on Main Street and attempted to pull him over, but he accelerated, according to the report, and turned first down Madison Street, failing to stop at a stop sign, then left onto Church Street, and finally right, into the church parking lot, where he lost control of the car.
He was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a felony due to multiple previous revocations of his driving privileges, the most recent of which resulted from a D.W.I. charge in April. He also faces charges of unsafe passing, failing to stop at a stop light, unreasonable speed, unlicensed operation, and lack of ignition interlock devices, all misdemeanors.
Mr. Escalante sustained several bruises and was treated at the scene by E.M.S., but refused further medical attention. At police headquarters, he was issued an appearance ticket requiring him to appear in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court tomorrow morning, and released.
On Sunday afternoon, Steven J. Harris of Westbury, 58, was charged with aggravated D.W.I., a felony also involving Leandra’s Law, alleging drunken driving with a child under 16 in the car.
The incident began after a bystander called police to report a domestic dispute in the parking lot of 22 Long Island Avenue. A woman who identified Mr. Harris as her boyfriend stated that they had gone to Shelter Island for dinner, where both consumed alcoholic beverages, and became engaged in a verbal argument on their way back to Westbury that caused Mr. Harris to pull into the parking lot.
Mr. Harris told police the woman had been belligerent after consuming too much alcohol, and said he pulled over because he didn’t want to drive all the way home with her yelling at him from the back seat. A child, reportedly the couple’s son, was also in the car.
Police said the driver displayed known signs of intoxication, and when both parties confirmed he had been driving, he was placed under arrest. In addition to the felony D.W.I. charge, he faces misdemeanor counts of consuming an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and endangering the welfare of a child.
He was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for treatment after he complained of lightheadedness and said he felt as if he were about to have a diabetic episode. He was then taken back to headquarters, where he was held overnight and arraigned before Justice Carl Irace on Monday morning. He will return to court at a future date.
