State Police DWI Checkpoint Yields Two Arrests for Felony DWI

On July 24, 2015, from about 9:00PM until about 1AM on July 25, New York State Troopers conducted a DWI checkpoint on State Route 44 in the Town of Pleasant Valley.  Approximately 600 vehicles went through the checkpoint.  Two drivers were arrested on felony charges of DWI and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO) 1st Degree after investigation revealed that they were intoxicated and their licenses to drive had already been revoked for previous DWI convictions.

1.  Christopher P. Murray, age 44 of Poughkeepsie, was charged with Felony DWI, AUO 1st Degree, and not wearing a seat belt.  He was operating a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 pick-up truck when he entered the checkpoint.  Murray was arrested after a trooper smelled a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on him.  He subsequently failed multiple field sobriety tests conducted at the checkpoint.  He refused to submit to a breath test.  Murray was convicted of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated in the Village of Pawling in 2012 and his driver’s license was revoked at that time.

2.  David R. McDonough, age 32 of Poughkeepsie, was charged with Aggravated Felony DWI, AUO 1st, and Avoiding a Traffic Control Device.  He was operating a 2004 Lincoln Aviator sport-utility vehicle when he made an illegal turn to avoid the checkpoint and was stopped by troopers.  After he was stopped, troopers detected a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath.  McDonough was arrested after he failed a series of field sobriety tests and later refused to submit to a breath test.  State Police investigation revealed that McDonough was convicted of Driving While Ability Impaired and Driving While Intoxicated multiple times, including one conviction for felony DWI in Pleasant Valley in 2008.

Both men were arraigned in the Town of Clinton Court on July 25 and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.  They are scheduled to re-appear for a hearing in the Town of Pleasant Valley Court on July 28.

In addition to the above arrests, one motorist was charged with the violation of Unlawful Possession of Marihuana and two others were charged with a traffic infraction for not having a child properly restrained in a child safety restraint or seatbelt.  All three were ticketed at the checkpoint and released.