WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DWI AFTER TAKING WRONG VEHICLE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2026          

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DWI AFTER TAKING WRONG VEHICLE

Sheriff’s Office Determines Vehicle Was Taken Mistakenly from Patchogue Parking Lot

(Patchogue, NY): On Saturday, August 1, 2026, Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs arrested Ariel Salgado, 35, of East Patchogue, for allegedly driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs after she was observed operating a vehicle erratically.

At approximately 2:50 a.m., Deputy Sheriffs observed a gray 2020 Mazda CX-5 traveling on Waverly Avenue in Patchogue at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was also observed traveling on the shoulder of the roadway and failing to maintain its lane. During the traffic stop, deputies observed that Salgado had slurred speech, exhibited signs of impairment, and had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath. She performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest.

During the investigation, deputies learned that the Mazda Salgado had been driving had been reported stolen. Investigators determined that Salgado had mistakenly entered and driven away in another person's vehicle after leaving a nearby bar. The vehicle's owner had inadvertently left the key fob inside the vehicle, and Salgado's own vehicle was the same make, model, and similar color and had been parked nearby. Once the mistake was discovered, the vehicle was returned to its rightful owner, who declined to pursue criminal charges related to the incident.

"Our Deputy Sheriffs remain vigilant in identifying and removing impaired drivers from our roadways before they can cause serious harm," said Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. "This incident also serves as a reminder to never leave your keys or key fob inside your vehicle, even for a short time."

All information contained in this release has been provided for general informational purposes only. To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.