Police

Cops: Drunk driving arrest leads police to illegal firearm

What started as a traffic stop for a broken headlight and erratic driving ended with a Southold man in custody for possessing a loaded, illegal handgun, Southold Town police said.

Tomas Vasquez-Ochoa was pulled over on Route 25 in Mattituck Saturday at about 8 p.m. for failing to stay in his lane and having a “defective headlight,” police said. An officer investigated and found that Mr. Vasquez-Ochoa was intoxicated, according to a police statement.

Police searched the driver and also found he had “several handgun bullets,” according to the report. Officers then went to Mr. Vasquez-Ochoa’s residence in Southold and found the illegal loaded handgun inside, police said.

Mr. Vasquez-Ochoa was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and driving while intoxicated, police said.

Mr. Vasquez-Ochoa had been arrested in July for misdemeanor DWI and unlicensed driving after he was seen driving out of his lane in Southold, police said at the time.