A driver stopped on suspicion of talking on his cell phone Tuesday in Southampton had a bench warrant for his arrest, police said Wednesday.

Southampton Town police said Panayiotis Georgiou, 44, of Shirley, was arrested following the traffic stop Tuesday at 5:49 p.m. on Montauk Highway near McGregor Drive. He was later turned over to the Suffolk County police Fugitive Squad. Police did not say why the warrant had been issued.

Police said an officer stopped Georgiou after he was spotted using the cell phone while driving a 2002 Ford van. The officer also found the registration was expired. Georgiou was charged with third-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating with a suspended registration, prohibited use of a cell phone, uninsured motor vehicle and fractured windshield in addition to the charges in the warrant.

Arraignment information was not immediately available.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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