Police: Massapequa man charged with DWI after he hits three in Freeport

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Mitchell Messling, 66, of Massapequa, has been charged with hitting two unidentified adults and one 11-year-old boy with his car while drunk on May 27 in Freeport, according to authorities.

A couple, Mike and Carol Dolan, said they witnessed Messling’s car weaving in and out of traffic on Merrick Road near Seaford. The Dolans followed Messling, who was driving a blue 2018 BMW i3, for roughly three miles and called police.

Once in Freeport, at around 4:10 p.m., driving westbound, Messling ran his car up onto the sidewalk at West Merrick Road and Long Beach Avenue, in front of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, and struck the family.

According to police, Messling had glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. At the time of his arrest, he claimed to have had only one drink.

A county police helicopter rushed the boy to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said. Both adults were transported by ambulance to local hospitals.

Messling was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular assault, two counts of third-degree assault, two counts of driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. He was arraigned on May 28 at First District Court in Hempstead. He pleaded not guilty and was held on $100,000/$200,000 bail. By press time on Tuesday, he had not made bail.