LI CRIME BRIEFS

COMMACK/Cops: Driver was on drugs

A Hauppauge man stopped March 2 for not wearing his seat belt while driving on the Northern State Parkway in Commack was high on drugs, State Police said Monday.

Matthew Bounaparte, 41, of Schneider Lane, was stopped by troopers at about 4:20 p.m. as he drove a gray Nissan westbound on the parkway, according to a news release.

Bounaparte had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, and troopers detected an odor of marijuana coming from the car, the release said.

As Bounaparte left his vehicle for a sobriety test, he lunged at one of the troopers and a struggle ensued, police said. Troopers were able to handcuff Bounaparte, who was spitting and screaming, the release said.

Police found two Vicodin pills on Bounaparte, the release said.

He is charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance not in its original container, harassment and several traffic violations, police said.

Bounaparte is being held on bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear Friday in First District Court in Central Islip.

Update: In 2013, Bounaparte pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and driving while ability impaired by drugs, court documents show. He was sentenced to 3 years of probation and paid a fine, according to court records.

-- GARY DYMSKI

COMMACK/Motorist charged with DWI

A St. James man stopped for speeding Monday on the Northern State Parkway in Commack faces a drunken-driving charge, State Police said.

Matthew O'Reilly, 46, was driving a brown Buick eastbound on the parkway, near the Sunken Meadow Parkway, at about 8:35 p.m. when he was pulled over by troopers, police said.

Troopers detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage as they interviewed O'Reilly, according to a news release. He failed sobriety tests and was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

He also produced a breath test reading of 0.19 percent, the release said. State law defines driving while intoxicated as a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent or above.

O'Reilly is charged with DWI and traffic violations and is scheduled to appear March 15 in First District Court in Central Islip.

-- GARY DYMSKI

MASSAPEQUA/Trio robs gaming store

Three men on Monday robbed a Massapequa gaming store of cash and equipment at gunpoint, Nassau County police said.

The three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, entered the GameStop at 6150 Sunrise Hwy. at about 12:15 p.m. and ordered the manager, a 27-year-old man, to the back of the store, police said. No arrests have been made yet, police said.

The men then took gaming consoles, video games and an unspecified amount of cash before leaving through the back door, police said.

The manager, who as alone in the store at the time, was not injured.

-- GARY DYMSKI

LEVITTOWN/Arrest in home burglary

A Levittown man was arrested Monday on charges of taking $7,850 in jewelry and cash from a home in August, Nassau County police said.

Matthew Dugal, 21, entered a house on Constable Lane in Levittown through an open rear door on Aug. 19 and took the cash and jewelry from a bedroom, police said.

Dugal, of 81 Bloomingdale Rd., was charged with second-degree burglary. He pleaded not guilty and was released to probation. His next court date is March 20 in First District Court in Hempstead.

-- GARY DYMSKI AND PATRICIA KITCHEN