Cops: Man drove drunk with kids in Elmont

Three men were arrested Tuesday night in Elmont after police making a traffic stop said they found the trio intoxicated and in possession of controlled substances -- with two children in the vehicle.

The children, ages 7 and 10, were not injured and were released to the care of a relative, Nassau County police said.

The stop occurred on Hempstead Turnpike just before 8 p.m., when officers saw the black Dodge fail to signal during a lane change and then fail to maintain its lane.

Police said officers "determined that the three adults were intoxicated and unable to properly care for the children."

The driver, identified as Darren A. James, 48, of 1481 Washington Ave., the Bronx, was charged with two counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra's Law, as well as with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, driving while ability-impaired by combined influence, driving while ability-impaired by drugs and with six vehicle and traffic law violations.

A front-seat passenger, Robert M. Ortega, 40, of 1513 Lexington Ave., Manhattan, was charged with five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

The third adult, Daily McCullum, 36, of 303 E. 135th St., the Bronx, was charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a hypodermic needle and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

Ortega and McCullum were arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead. Arraignment information for James was not immediately available Wednesday.

Leandra's Law makes it a felony, even on first offense, to drive drunk with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle.

Police could not immediately identify the controlled substance found, citing pending toxicology examinations.