Police: Merrick woman drunk with child in car

A 41-year-old North Merrick woman was arrested by state police last Friday and charged with aggravated DWI.

Kristen Cataldo was accused of driving while intoxicated with a child in the back seat.

At 10:20 p.m. on Aug. 20, Trooper Hubert was traveling eastbound on the Ocean Parkway, west of the Robert Moses Causeway, when he noticed a gray Toyota stopped partially in the right lane on the westbound side.

Hubert approached the passenger side and instructed Cataldo to pull off the roadway. While interviewing Cataldo, Hubert smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath, as well as observing her bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.

Cataldo failed sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for driving while intoxicated. Police say she had a blood alcohol level of .16

Cataldo was charged with aggravated DWI (E Felony), endangering the the welfare of a child (A Misdemeanor), and other traffic violations. She was held for arraignment in Suffolk County 1st District Court on Aug. 21 at 9 a.m.