North Syracuse woman charged with aggravated DWI under Leandra’s Law
State Police arrested Melissa M. Romano, 27, of North Syracuse, on five counts of first-degree aggravated driving while intoxicated, a class E felony; and five counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
On July 29, 2018, Trooper Nathaniel Seifried was working a joint seatbelt enforcement detail with the state Parks Police at the entrance to Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville. Seifried observed a Dodge minivan enter the park and saw there were unrestrained children inside. He spoke with the female driver, who confirmed the children in the backseat were ages 7, 7 and 11.
One-year-old twins that were also in the vehicle were properly restrained; however, neither 7-year-old was properly restrained in a booster seat.
Seifried asked the driver to pull over for further investigation.
During their conversation, Seifried observed an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. He asked the driver to exit the vehicle and submit to field sobriety tests, which she subsequently failed.
Romano did not have a valid driver’s license (permit only); she was placed under arrest and transported to SP North Syracuse for processing.
The father of the children responded to the scene to take custody of the kids and the vehicle.
Romano submitted to a chemical test of her blood alcohol content and provided a sample of .19 percent. She was issued appearance tickets returnable to Manlius Town Court.