Crime & Safety

State Police: Car Accident, Speeding Lead to DWI Arrests

The New York State Police provided the following information. It does not indicate any convictions.

Officials from the East Fishkill and Southeast barracks of the New York State Police arrested a number of individuals on drunken driving charges over the weekend. Here are their names:

  • Liam W. Farnell, 28. Police stopped Farnell at about 5:10 p.m. Sunday. Officials say the Fishkill resident was headed west on Interstate 84 in Patterson when troopers noticed the 1988 Honda Civic he was operating was smoking and leaking. They conducted an investigation before charging Farnell with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. No blood-alcohol level was available Monday, as the defendant reportedly refused to submit to a chemical test. He was released pending a Sept. 24 appearance in Patterson Justice Court. 
  • Colette C. Douglas, 23. Troopers responded to a report of a one-car accident on Route 312 in Southeast around 2:20 a.m. Sunday. They found Douglas, a Mahopac resident, standing outside a 2002 Ford sedan, which was overturned, police told Patch. No injuries were reported. Following a police investigation, Douglas was charged with two misdemeanors: aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated. The former typically indicates a blood alcohol level of 0.18 or more. Police say the defendant's blood alcohol level was 0.18. The legal limit is 0.08. She was released pending an appearance in Southeast Justice Court Tuesday. Authorities were unable to provide additional details on the accident.
  • Jonathan J. Birdsell, 43. Police stopped the New Rochelle resident at about 9:10 a.m Saturday on eastbound Interstate 84 in Patterson. He was allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed in a 2003 Nissan Altima. Following their investigation, officials charged Birdsell with two misdemeanors: aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated. The defendant's blood-alcohol level was allegedly 0.18. He was released pending a Sept. 27 appearance in Patterson Justice Court.
  • Joseph J. Sands, 27. Authorities say they stopped Sands for speeding on southbound Interstate 684 in Southeast around 1:20 a.m. Saturday. He was operating a 2012 Subaru Impreza. Police investigation led to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated for Sands. His blood-alcohol level was reportedly 0.13. Police released the defendant pending an appearance in Southeast Justice Court Thursday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.