The Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau arrested a West Islip man after he was stopped in an overloaded peddle boat.

On July 25, at 11:02 p.m., Suffolk County Police Officers Keith Magliola and Daniel Smith were operating Marine Vessel Juliet when they observed a small peddle type boat designed for two people overloaded with three. The occupants of the boat were not wearing any personal flotation devices and did not have any form of navigation lights on board. The Officers observed that the operator of the boat, Gerald Cella, age 36, of 234 West Islip Road, West Islip was in a highly intoxicated state and had his 12-year-old nephew and the nephew’s 12-year-old friend on board.

While being questioned aboard Marine Vessel Juliet, Cella realizing he was going to be arrested, jumped into the water and tried to swim way. He was caught a short time later and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Resisting Arrest. He was also issued summonses for the equipment violations on the boat.

He was arraigned in First District Court, Central Islip on July 26.