Police: Ridge Man, Wilfredo Figueroa, 21, Charged with DWAI in Violation of Leandra’s Law, Possession of Marijuana

LONG ISLAND, NY – Suffolk County Police arrested a Ridge man yesterday morning for driving while ability impaired by drugs with a 9-month-old child in the vehicle.

According to police, Wilfredo Figueroa, 21, was driving a 2001 Ford Focus southbound on Puritan Avenue in Shirley with his girlfriend’s child and two other passengers in his vehicle. At the intersection of Moriches Middle Island Road, Figueroa drove through a stop sign and narrowly avoided striking an unmarked patrol vehicle.

Wilfredo Figueroa, 21, of Ridge NY was charged with Aggravated Driving While Impaired by Drugs with a Child Passenger 15 Years Old or Younger in violation of Leandra’s Law, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Criminal Possession of Marijuana 5th Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Photo SCPD.

An investigation by Seventh Squad detectives revealed that Figueroa, of Ridge, was under the influence of drugs, and he was arrested and charged with Aggravated Driving While Impaired by Drugs with a Child Passenger 15 Years Old or Younger in violation of Leandra’s Law, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Criminal Possession of Marijuana 5th Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree.

Figueroa was held at the Seventh Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip today, April 15, 2015.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.