Cops: Flat tire leads to DWI charge

Troopers stopping to help an Oceanside man with a flat tire Saturday on the Southern State Parkway in West Islip arrested him on a felony drunken driving charge, State Police said.

Two troopers patrolling the eastbound lanes of the parkway found a white Toyota blocking the entrance ramp to Bay Shore Road, near Exit 41, at about 3 a.m. because of a flat tire, according to a news release.

As the troopers spoke with the driver, Rocco Camuti, 29, they said they detected a strong odor of alcohol, the release said. Also, Camuti had watery, bloodshot eyes, police said.

Police said he failed sobriety tests and was arrested. He also provided a breath-analyzer reading of .15 percent.

Camuti is charged with felony DWI because of a previous drunken-driving conviction in the last 10 years, police said.

His arraignment information at First District Court in Central Islip was not immediately available.