FREEPORT, N.Y. – Nassau County Police say a West Babylon man was arrested Tuesday night after officers stopped his vehicle in Freeport and determined he was driving while intoxicated with a young child in the car.
According to police, the incident occurred around 9:43 p.m. on October 7, 2025, when Freeport officers observed a 2008 Chevrolet SUV traveling eastbound on West Sunrise Highway. Officers noticed a passenger in the front seat throw a bottle out of the window, prompting a traffic stop near South Ocean Avenue and West Sunrise Highway.
During the stop, officers conducted an investigation and determined that the driver, Anthony Furtado, 60, of Cindy Drive, West Babylon, was intoxicated. He was taken into custody without incident. Police say a 4-year-old girl was seated in the back of the vehicle and was safely released to a family member at the scene.
Furtado is charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Intoxicated, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead.
Arrest – Freeport
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Anthony Furtado |
| Age | 60 |
| Residence | Cindy Drive, West Babylon, NY |
| Date/Time of Incident | October 7, 2025 – 9:43 p.m. |
| Location | West Sunrise Highway & South Ocean Avenue, Freeport |
| Vehicle | 2008 Chevrolet SUV |
| Passenger | 4-year-old female (unharmed, released to family) |
| Charges | Aggravated DWI, DWI, Endangering the Welfare of a Child |
| Arraignment | October 8, 2025 |
| Court Location | First District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead, NY |
Q&A: Freeport Arrest
What is Aggravated DWI?
Under New York law, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Aggravated DWI) applies when a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.18% or higher, or when there is a child age 15 or younger in the vehicle while the driver is intoxicated. It carries heavier penalties than a standard DWI charge.
What are the penalties for Aggravated DWI?
A first offense can result in fines up to $2,500, license revocation for one year, and possible jail time of up to one year. Repeat offenses can result in felony charges and longer prison sentences.
What does “Endangering the Welfare of a Child” mean?
This charge is filed when someone engages in behavior that could harm a child’s physical, mental, or moral welfare. Driving while intoxicated with a child passenger automatically meets that threshold under New York law.
Where will the case be heard?
Furtado’s arraignment and subsequent proceedings are scheduled to take place at the First District Court in Hempstead, which handles misdemeanor and preliminary felony cases for Nassau County.
