Grandfather Charged With DWI Had Twins, 5 Months, In SUV: Cops

CENTER MORICHES, NY — A Center Moriches man was charged with violating Leandra's Law after he was charged with driving while intoxicated with his two grandsons, five-month old twins, in the vehicle, police said.

According to Suffolk County Police, the incident took place in Center Moriches in the eastbound lane of Montauk Highway on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 12:35 a.m.

Seventh Precinct officers responded to a 911 report of an intoxicated man asleep at the wheel of a 2005 Land Rover with two babies in the vehicle at the Burger King drive-through window, located on Montauk Highway in Shirley, police said.

The driver woke up before police arrived at the scene, and witnesses reported seeing the vehicle heading eastbound on Montauk Highway, police said.

Officers located the vehicle about three miles away on eastbound Montauk Highway in Center Moriches and initiated a traffic stop; when officers approached the vehicle, they found 5-month-old twin boys in car seats in the backseat, police said.

James Singleton, 59, of Walden Court, was charged with driving while intoxicated; aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger 15-years old or younger (Leandra’s Law); aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

He was held overnight at the Seventh Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday, police said.

The twins were released to the custody of their grandmother at the scene, police said.