6-Year-Old In Car As Westchester County Driver Arrested On Felony DWI Charge On Route 22: Sheriff

SOUTHEAST, NY — A Westchester County man was arrested in Putnam County for potentially putting the life of a child at risk, according to law enforcement.

Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess says that on Sunday, around 1:43 a.m., members of the Sheriff's Office stopped a vehicle after it crossed over the double yellow center line on Route 22, in the Town of Southeast.

While speaking with the driver, 26-year-old Fausto Elizo Guerrero Benalcazar, of Peekskill, deputies noticed signs of intoxication, according to the sheriff. The driver was administered field sobriety tests, which he failed, the sheriff said.

Deputies also found that a six-year-old child was also in the vehicle at the time of the stop.

Guerrero Benalcazar was taken into custody and transported to the Putnam County Correctional Facility for processing.

He was charged with felony aggravated DWI with a child passenger under 16 (Leandra's Law); misdemeanor aggravated DWI (BAC of 0.18 percent of higher); misdemeanor DWI; misdemeanor operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater; and the infraction of failing to obey a traffic control device.

Guerrero Benalcazar was arraigned in the Town of Southeast Justice Court and released on his own recognizance.