New York State Police arrested a Buffalo man today on charges of Driving While Intoxicated, possessing drugs, and a gun with a minor in the vehicle. Troopers out of SP Niagara arrested 28-year-old Tim J. Thomas Jr. on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. He was charged with one count of Aggravated DWI with a child passenger less than 16 years old, one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of Criminal Possession of a weapon 2nd degree, two counts of Criminal Possession Controlled, and one count of Criminal Possession Controlled sub 7th degree.

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Troopers responded to River Road in Wheatfield after receiving a call from U.S. Border Patrol agents about a vehicle stopped in the road. Thomas, who was the driver of the vehicle, was asleep. Inside the vehicle, Troopers also found a female passenger and an eight-year-old in the back seat. Thomas was pre-screened for DWI drugs and failed. Upon searching the vehicle, police also found cocaine, heroin and 9mm pistol loaded with a high-capacity magazine.

He was arrested and taken to the State Police Precinct Niagara for processing. He was arraigned on the charges at the Wheatfield Town Court and transported to the Niagara County Jail. Thomas is being held without bail because of a prior felony conviction. He is also currently on parole.

The penalties for driving while intoxicated, either on alcohol or a drug are virtually the same in New York State. DWI carries stiff penalties and can cost quite a bit, aside from the potential loss of human life. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 45 minutes. In 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2019. These deaths were all preventable.

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