Police: Rescued boater was drunk, had gun

Police responding to a distress call for a boat taking on water in Reynolds Channel off Point Lookout Monday night arrested a 26-year-old South Hempstead man on charges of boating while intoxicated and illegal possession of a handgun.

Eric S. Monahan of Woodland Drive was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, boating while intoxicated and operating an unregistered vessel.

Nassau County police also said Monahan had an open warrant for third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle dating to January 2009.

Police said a Marine Bureau unit responded to a distress call for a boat taking on water in the channel at about 9:30 p.m. Police said the unit, Marine 5, arrived to find the boat sinking -- and Monahan intoxicated.

Officers recovered a .9-millimeter handgun during the subsequent investigation, police said. Police said Monahan did not have a permit for the gun.

Monahan is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.