Deputy Amy Nowak was able to locate the vehicle in the Town
of Castile, where she said the vehicle failed to yield at a yield sign, almost
striking the Deputy. The vehicle was subsequently pulled over in a nearby
parking lot. Due to the nature of the
call, Perry Police Department Officer Harding arrived for back up assistance.
The driver, Michael A. Munto II, 29 of Fillmore, allegedly displayed numerous
indicators that he may be under the influence of drugs and was requested out of
the vehicle. Upon being searched, deputies say Munto tried to flee back to his
vehicle. A struggle ensued between the officers and Munto. Along with the help
of a bystander, Munto was taken into custody. He was allegedly found to be in
possession of heroin, a hypodermic instrument, and open containers of alcohol. Two
children, ages 6 and 4, were inside of the vehicle and safely turned over to a
family member.
Munto was transported to the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office
where he underwent a drug influence evaluation by a Sheriff’s Office Drug
Recognition Expert. Munto was determined to be under the influence of multiple
drugs and unable to operate a vehicle safely. He was charged with two counts of
Leandra’s Law Aggravated DWI- Child in Vehicle, DWAI Drugs, DWAI Combination of
Drugs, Reckless Driving, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the
7th degree, Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic instrument, Endangering the
Welfare of a Child, and numerous other VTL infractions.
Munto was arraigned in the Town of Perry Court and remanded
to the Wyoming County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail and $20,000 bond.
Also assisting at the scene were the New York State Police,
New York State Parks Police, Castile Fire and Rescue Squad, and Tallman’s
Towing.
