State police: Underage drunk driver tried to bribe officers

State troopers say a Copiague man who is not legally old enough to drink tried to offer police money to let him go when he was drunk behind the wheel – and it’s not the first time he’s accused of DWI.

News 12 Staff

Feb 22, 2019, 10:22 PM

Updated 2,114 days ago

Share:

State police: Underage drunk driver tried to bribe officers
State troopers say a Copiague man who is not legally old enough to drink tried to offer police money to let him go when he was drunk behind the wheel – and it’s not the first time he’s accused of DWI.
Police say Johnny Rajkumar, 20, was driving an SUV with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit early Friday morning. According to state troopers, Rajkumar was driving westbound on the Southern State Parkway near exit 31 in the Town of Oyster Bay at around 1:40 a.m. when officers stopped him for multiple vehicle and traffic violations.
State police say their field investigation showed Rajkumar was driving with a blood alcohol level of .18.
News 12 is told Rajkumar offered the officers money three times if they would let him go. State police say he also gave officers a false name.
Prosecutors told the judge at his arraignment that Rajkumar was arrested for DWI last June, and that the case was still pending.
Michael Franzese, Rajkumar's attorney, says he's a good kid who's made a couple of mistakes. He says he was disappointed to get the call about Rajkumar's latest arrest.
Rajkumar pled not guilty to charges of aggravated DWI, criminal impersonation and bribery, which is a felony.
The judge suspended his driver's license. He's due back in court next month.