E. Northport Man Among 'Wrong-Way DWI Drivers' Indicted Tuesday

Christopher Williams, 40, the East Northport man who drove the wrong way on the Sunrise Highway for eight miles before police were able to stop him, is a family man, community volunteer and gainfully employed.

That's according to his attorney, William Ferris, at Williams' arraignment today in Suffolk County Court. Williams appeared in a somber blue suit, the bloody gash visible on his forehead in photos immediately following his arrest all but gone.

A grand jury indictment charged Williams with six counts of reckless endangerment; two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor; and one count each of assault, second degree; unlawful fleeing from a police officer in a motor vehicle, third degree; resisting arrest;  reckless driving; operating a motor vehicle the wrong way on a one-way roadway and failure to obey a police officer.

Williams pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Dec. 9 and was released on $300,000 bond put up by his parents, with their East Northport home as surety.

Williams currently lives with his parents, although he has a house in Manorville, according to Ferris. The couple accompanied their son to court as did his brother, a Suffolk County police lieutenant.

He was required to surrender his New York State driver's license.

According to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, Williams had been at a holiday party at Boathouse restaurant in East Hampton Wednesday, Dec. 8.

"We know he left the party at 9:15 p.m.," Spota said at a press conference following the indictment. "He has refused to tell us where he was after that. But at 1:20 a.m. he is seen by a civilian and then an off-cuty Suffolk County police sergeant driving the wrong way, westbound in the eastbound lane of the Sunrise Highway."

Spota said that Williams drove for approximately six miles in a high-speed chase with members of both the Suffolk police and sheriff's offices. Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco appeared with Spota at the press conference.

"Police had their lights and sirens on, but he refused to pull over," Spota said. 
Spota said Williams was traveling at speeds as high as 100 miles per hour.

"At one point during the chase, police, in their attempt to stop him, were forced to swerve out of the defendant's way. Otherwise, there would have been a head-on collision."

Once he was finally stopped, he "refused to listen to any commands" from police and had to be physically removed from the car, which was still in gear. As a result, the vehicle ran over a police officer's foot.

Although Williams refused a blood test, a court order was obtained and his blood-alcohol content was found to be 0.15 percent three hours after the arrest, Spota said. "Almost twice the legal limit," Spota said.

Williams is scheduled to return to court Jan. 4, 2011. 

This incident was one of a string of drivers traveling the wrong way on Long Island roads in recent weeks.

Spota scoffed at the idea that bad signage caused the drivers to travel the wrong way saying one thing the drivers all had in common is that they had been drinking an excessive amount of alcohol or both alcohol and drugs.

"Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped," Spota said. "Since [Williams' arrest] we've had two more cases. And I assure you we will prosecute in the same manner."