Drunk Bayport man sped past trooper on parkway, police say

He passed a marked State Police unit at “a high rate of speed” on the Southern State Parkway early Sunday.

Then, police said, he changed lanes without signaling.

The trooper conducted a traffic stop, ultimately arrested the driver, John Testa, 19, of Bayport — charging him with driving while intoxicated and a handful of traffic violations.

The speeding occurred on the Southern State near Hempstead Avenue, Exit 17, at about 12:40 a.m., police said.

Police said that after witnessing the violations, the trooper stopped the black Cadillac that Testa was driving. Testa failed the subsequent field sobriety tests, police said.

He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court in Hempstead on Aug. 26.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”