DOVER, NY — A traffic stop on State Route 22 led to the arrest of a motorist on felony DWI charges early Sunday morning.
Troopers assigned to State Police Dover conducted the stop on a southbound vehicle at approximately 12:01 a.m. Sunday for violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
During the stop, the operator, identified as Jose D. Melara Melara, 28, of Pawling, displayed signs of intoxication.
Further investigation revealed that two children, ages 2 and 9, were in the vehicle at the time of the stop.
Melara was taken into custody and transported to State Police Dover for processing.
He submitted to a chemical breath test, which resulted in a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 percent.
The children were safely released to a sober third party.
Melara was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger less than 16, a class E felony under Leandra’s Law, driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor, and vehicle and traffic law violations.
He was issued traffic tickets returnable to the Town of Dover Court on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.
