Police: Woman Charged With DWI With Granddaughter In Patchogue

A 42-year-old woman faces driving while intoxicated charges for allegedly driving erratically in Patchogue early Saturday morning with her 7-year-old granddaughter in the vehicle, says Suffolk County Police.

Police say that officer Jeffrey Pitkewicz observed a 2013 Chevrolet traveling at a high rate of speed and erratically changing lanes on eastbound Sunrise Highway in Patchogue at 3:23 a.m. The officer stopped the car, and police say the driver initially identified herself with her granddaughter’s name and did not provide a driver’s license. Police say the driver, who was later identified from further investigation as Wanda Carter, was intoxicated and had her 7-year-old daughter in the car. Police say she was placed under arrest and taken to the Fifth Precinct.

Police say their investigation found 28 suspensions on the license of the suspect and two warrants. Carter was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child 15 years old or younger (which is considered a felony under Leandra’s Law), driving while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child, forgery in the second degree, criminal impersonation and aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree. Carter is also held on a felony warrant, a VTL warrant and was issued a summons for speeding, says police.

The vehicle was impounded, Carter is being held overnight and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on June 23.