Cops: Drunken driver went over 120 mph

A driver speeding in excess of 120 mph early Thursday in Brookhaven Town was arrested on a drunken driving charge, police said.

Joseph Perez, 26, of South Setauket, was spotted at about 1:55 a.m. driving a 2011 Hyundai at a high rate of speed southbound on Nicolls Road in Stony Brook, just north of Stony Brook University Medical Center, Suffolk County police said in a news release.

Officer Robert Mudzinski of the Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Team, or SAFE-T, followed the Hyundai, which "at times reached speeds in excess of 120" mph, police said.

The Hyundai went west on Route 347, made a U-turn, and made a right onto Nicolls southbound, police said.

"When the Hyundai stopped for a red light at the intersection with Pond Path, Officer Mudzinski was able to catch up to the car and turned on his lights to pull over the vehicle," police said. The motor vehicle stop occurred at the intersection, in Lake Grove.

Perez, of 54 Sunflower Ridge Rd., was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and also issued four moving violations, including two summonses for driving in excess of 120 mph, police said. Perez's vehicle was seized, police said.

In 2009 Perez pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated, was sentenced to three years probation, fined $1000 and had his license revoked, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

Perez was arraigned Thursday afternoon at First District Court in Central Islip and pled not guilty. Bail was set at $75,000 cash or $150,000 bond. He is due back in court on March 7.