Police: Man Drove on Northern State While on Drugs

Editor's Note: Editor's Note: Bounaparte ultimately pled guilty to only two charges: resisting arrest and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His charges for possession of a controlled substance, harassment and wearing no seat belt were dismissed.

A Hauppauge man was arrested March 2 and charged with driving while impaired by drugs, after he drove high on the Northern State Parkway in Commack, police said.

Matthew Bounaparte, 41, was pulled over near the Sunken Meadow Parkway at approximately 4:30 p.m. for not wearing a seatbelt, according to New York State police.

While talking to Bounaparte, the trooper noticed he had slurred speech and smelled marijauna coming from his car, police said. When asked to exit his car for a sobriety test, police said Bounaparte lunged at the trooper and put up a struggle, reportedly spitting and screaming at the trooper.

Police managed to handcuff Bounaparte after the brief struggle. Authorities also discovered Bounaparte was carrying two Vicodin pills, police said.

Bounaparte was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree harassment, and traffic violations.

Bounaparte was arraigned at First District Court on March 3. He is currently being held on $10,000 bond or $5,000 cash bail as of Tuesday morning.