One Arrest was a Felony DWI

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports three separate DWI arrests made in the overnight hours of December 27 – 28. 

December 28, 1:04 A.M., Town of Boston – Deputies Krypel and Thurston were dispatched to a Boston State Road address for a suspicious vehicle.  When the Deputies approached the vehicle and talked with the driver, the odor of alcohol was detected.  Marisa Lacina, 19, of Hamburg failed standard field sobriety tests and was arrested and charged with DWI and drinking alcohol in the vehicle.  Lacina was released to a parent and has a scheduled court appearance on January 9. 

December 28, 2:19 A.M., Town of Clarence – Deputy Biegasiewicz was dispatched to Salt and Lapp roads for a vehicle off the roadway.  When the Deputy arrived he observed the vehicle had crashed into a tree and that the operator had left the scene.  Deputies Biegasiewicz and Rozycki located the suspected driver along County Road and positively identified him as Travis Hauck, 25, of North Tonawanda.   Hauck was charged with DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, speeding, and failure to use the designated lane.  The defendant was released to a sober third party. 

December 28, 4:39 P.M., Town of Lancaster – Deputy Zamorek stopped a vehicle on Aurora Street in the Village of Lancaster for traffic violations.  Upon approaching the vehicle the Deputy detected the odor of alcohol and marijuana.  The operator, Jacob Rappleye, 20, of Lancaster failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for felony DWI  due to a previous conviction, felony aggravated DWI (.18 BAC or higher), felony aggravated unlicensed operation, operating a vehicle without an interlock device, unlawful possession of marijuana and vehicle and traffic violations.  The Deputy’s continued investigation also discovered the passenger knew that the driver did not have a valid driver’s license, possessed marijuana, and pills not in the original container.  Melanie Vertalino, 42 of West Seneca, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and facilitating aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and may face additional drug-related charges. 

Rappleye was later released from the Erie County Holding Center on $500.00 bail and Vertalino was released at the scene.  Both defendants face future court dates in Lancaster Village Court.