Bronx man arrested for Assault and DWI after leaving friends on Interstate 684

North Castle, New York – On September 17, 2016, New York State Police from Somers arrested Anthony Velazquez, 25 years old, of the Bronx, New York, for Assault in the 2^ndDegree, and Reckless Endangerment 1^st Degree, both Class D Felonies. He was additionally charged with Driving While Intoxicated, a Misdemeanor.

At approximately 4:20 a.m., Troopers responded to a reported disable vehicle located on Interstate 684 in the area of mile post marker 5.5.  Upon arrival, police interviewed the victim who reported that he was the designated driver for the evening.  When his passenger felt ill, he pulled over to the side of the interstate and escorted her to the shoulder of the roadway where she was sick.  While he walked her back to his vehicle, Velazquez got into the driver’s seat and started to drive the vehicle away.  The victim grabbed the side pillar of the vehicle hoping to prevent Velazquez from driving the vehicle.  Velazquez continued to pull away and the victim fell to the ground and sustained a non-life threatening head injury.  The victim was treated by North Castle EMS on the scene and refused further medical attention.

Velazquez was located subsequent to a one-car auto collision that occurred on Old Hopewell Road in the Town of Wappinger where he was driving the victim’s vehicle.  An investigation revealed that Velazquez was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Velazquez was charged with DWI at the Wappinger barracks and transported to the Somers barracks to answer the Assault charges.  The defendant was arraigned in the North Castle Town Court in front of Judge Lazansky.  He was remanded to the Westchester County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond or $7,500 cash bail.  He is due to appear in both town courts at a later date and time.