Westmoreland (WSYR-TV) – State Police have charged a Syracuse man Friday who they say drove drunk and then became “combative and verbally abusive” toward police while being arrested.
According to State Police, they responded to several Oneida County 911 messages regarding a red Dodge pick-up truck that was swerving from “shoulder to shoulder” while traveling east on I-90. When they arrived in the Westmoreland area, a tractor trailer blocked off both lanes to slow traffic while they attempted to pull over the vehicle being driven by Anthony Imbesi.
When Imbesi finally pulled into the Westmoreland toll plaza, police say he got out of the truck while it was still in drive. Police say they had to react quickly to remove the vehicle from the roadway. The truck was later impounded.
Police say they determined that Imbesi was highly intoxicated and that he was abusive toward police. When he was taken to the Syracuse State Police station, they say he hurled “racial slurs” at them and continued to behave in an uncooperative manner. Police then discovered that Imbesi had a blood alcohol level that was three times the legal limit.
He was charged with felony aggravated DWI, felony DWI – due to a previous DWI conviction, failure to obey a police officer, open alcohol container in a motor vehicle, and multiple vehicle and traffic violations. Police say further charges for aggravated harassment are pending.
He was arraigned in Town of Verona Court and released on $10,000 bail.
He is scheduled to appear in Town of Westmoreland Court on Feb. 8 at 3 p.m.
