9 Arrested During Riverhead's Labor Day DWI Crackdown: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Stop-DWI enforcement effort in Riverhead over Labor Day weekend resulted in nine arrests, police said.

The Riverhead Police Department said increased enforcement began on Friday and continued into Monday; the enforcement included increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints, which were held at three different times and locations on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. Friday and ending at 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning.

Four people were arrested as they entered checkpoints; four others were arrested because of observed vehicle and traffic violations; and one person was involved in a two-vehicle crash, police said.

According to Riverhead police, there were two arrests on Friday at a checkpoint at Sound Avenue and West Lane: Joseph Venturo, 61, of Calverton was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and refusal to take a breath test, police said. Venturo's vehicle was seized, per Suffolk County Seizure Law, for having a prior conviction for DWI in New York State, police said.

George M. Conard, 60, of Garden City, was arrested Friday and charged with driving while ability impaired, police said.

Also on Friday, there was one arrest at a checkpoint on East Main Street, west of Elton Street, police said. Bryan Carnizales Lopez, 28, of Riverhead, was arrested and charged with DWI, police said.

On Saturday, there was an arrest at a checkpoint on Peconic Avenue near Heidi Behr Way: Brittany L. Smith, 35, of Mastic Beach, was arrested and charged with DWI, police said.

Also on Saturday, after being involved in a crash, Elfego Enriquez Bolvito, 25, of Riverhead, was arrested and charged with aggravated felony DWI, police said.

Other arrests during the increased patrol enforcement included:

Ryan G. Goldberg, 27, of Franklin Square, was arrested on Sunday and charged with DWI, police said.

On Monday, Ivan Sariles Hernandez, 36, of Calverton, was arrested and charged with DWI and refusal to take a breath test, police said.

Hugo Ardon Hernandez, 22, of Greenport, was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated felony DWI, police said. Ardon Hernandez had his vehicle seized as per the Suffolk County seizure law for having a prior conviction for DWI in New York, police said.

Howard. E. Gassert, 45, of Riverhead, was arrested Monday and charged with DWI, police said

All were processed at Riverhead Police headquarters and held until morning arraignment, police said.

The Riverhead Police Department will continue their DWI enforcement throughout the year, with increased enforcement expected during the holiday season, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, police said.