Passenger Attempts to Escape While Driver is Arrested for DWI
A traffic stop turned bizarre for Nassau County police early Friday morning when two men were arrested for traffic infractions and driving drunk. The incident happened at around 3:20 a.m. along the Long Island Expressway near the Northern State Parkway.
According to police, Phillip Marsh, 31, of Wyandanch, was stopped by Nassau County Police Highway patrol officers for speeding and swerving in his 2001 Nissan. Once pulled over it was obvious that Marsh had been drinking and he was arrested on the scene.
As officers put Marsh into the backseat of their patrol car, his passenger, Harris Morales, 38, of Huntington Station, attempted to speed off. One of the officers reacted quickly and pulled the police car in front of the Nissan. According to police, Morales was also intoxicated and arrested.
After impounding the Nissan police found an open container of alcohol on the passenger side.
Marsh was charged with two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Operating an Uninspected Motor Vehicle, Having an Open Alcohol Container in a Vehicle, Failure to Stay in a Single Lane, and Driving in Excess of the Posted Speed Limit. Morales was also charged with two DWI counts, Aggravated Driving while Intoxicated, and Having an Open Alcohol Container in a Vehicle.
Marsh was released without bail and is due back in court in January. The judge held Morales on $2,500 bail. He’ll be back in court on November 26. The two were arraigned later in the day on Friday in the First District Court in Hempstead.
[Source: Nassau County Police]