DWI Checkpoint in Port Chester Leads to 8 Arrests

A joint effort by Port Chester Police and Westchester County Police targeting drunken drivers led to eight arrests at an overnight DWI checkpoint near the Connecticut border during the weekend.

Police said the checkpoint was set up at 11 p.m. on Saturday and ran until 4 a.m. Sunday. Port Chester village officers arrested three Connecticut residents and one Pennsylvania man on DWI charges, and Westchester County officers also made four arrests.

The checkpoint was set up on Hillside Avenue, where village and county officers stopped motorists to determine whether they had been drinking.

Charged by Port Chester Police with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, are:

- John Darcangelo, 31, of 39 Fitch Ave., Darien, CT.

- Percey Guerra Apaza, 42, of 180 N. Water St., Byram, CT.

- Andy Rivera, 28, 31 Spring Hill Ave., Norwalk, CT.

Information on the arrests made by county police was not yet available.

During the checkpoint stops, Port Chester police arrested James Melis, 40, and charged him with misdemeanor DWI. His charge was then dropped to Driving While Ability Impaired, a violation, for which he paid a fine.