Cops: Sixth DWI arrest for Commack man

A Commack man was arrested a sixth time on a drunken driving charge early Thursday after crashing in Wantagh, and then he lied about his identity, State Police said.

Carlos Lennon, 24, was arrested after the 1997 Ford he was driving hit the guardrail in the eastbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway near Exit 28, Wantagh Avenue, about 4:45 a.m., police said.

He was charged with felony DWI because of a previous drunken driving conviction in the past 10 years, and aggravated operation of a motor vehicle, police said.

When he sobered up, police said, Lennon told troopers he was not Carlos and gave another first name, which happens to be the name of his brother, who lives with him.

"He basically said he was . . . the brother, who had no prior arrests, to try to get out of the felonies," Sgt. Timothy Heins said.

Fingerprints from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services confirmed he was the man on the license, Carlos Lennon, police said.

Heins said additional charges may be filed against Lennon for allegedly lying about his identity, once the case is presented to the district attorney's office.

As of late Friday afternoon, Lennon, a bartender in Patchogue, had not recanted his story, police said.

"We have the fingerprint match," the sergeant said. "We don't really care what he says at this point. . . . He could claim to be Santa Claus. It doesn't matter anymore."

Lennon, of 26 White Spruce Circle, was to be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead Thursday, police said, but the time taken to confirm his identity means he will be in jail overnight for his arraignment Friday.

With Gary Dymski