SMITHTOWN, LONG ISLAND, NY -- Police said the father of a 4-year-old boy abandoned him and fled arresting officers after the man he was riding with got pulled over for driving under the influence of drugs.
Police said Benjamin Laudonio, 26, of Stony Brook, was driving a 1995 Lincoln sedan at 11:40 a.m. when he crossed over the center divider line on Route 25 in Smithtown. When Laudonio was pulled over by an officer, the passenger of the car, Paul Lucente, 30, of Kings Park, fled the scene with his child still in the back seat. An investigation revealed that Laudonio was under the influence of drugs, police said.
Lucente was later found by police and arrested on endangering the welfare of a child and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance charges.
Laudonio was arrested on five separate charges – operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, aggravated DWI with a child less than 16-years-old – which is a felony under Leandra’s Law, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, endangering the welfare of a child and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Lucente was one of 24 from Smithtown who was arrested in a heroin bust, dubbed "Operation Heroin Highway", a year long investigation conducted by the Queens District Attorney's office. Lucente was arrested in December of 2011 and officials announced the results of the operation in January. In all, officers seized more than 8,000 glassine envelopes of heroin, more than five kilograms of heroin, 2.7 kilograms of cocaine and five pistols, a shotgun and an assault rifle.
The boy’s mother, Brittney Williams, also of Kings Park, was seriously injured back in December when she was struck by a car on St. Johnland Road. Friends reported in January that Williams was on a slow road to recovery. A bake sale was held for Williams that same month, to help fray medical and child care costs.
If you are so worried about people knowing the truth, why don't you try telling it? As for your curiosity, I am not related in any way and this story has absolutely nothing to do with me. It doesn't affect me in the least. I am not concerned but, since you keep replying to me, I will defend my comments and not allow you to manipulate my words. Why do you care so much what strangers have to say? If you are so worried about your nephew and your brother, why are you wasting your time replying to everybody?
Everyone is all up and into each others business. Comments are "opinions" and opinions are like butt holes... every body has one. Judge not......lest ye be judged! My prayers to Brittany and her family and to the Lucente family. I cannot make the changes for them, but I will be praying for them and know that the Lord will have HIS way in the end.
You should worry a bit more about the amount of your own posts, as you have made far more comments than me. Get a life!
I am appalled at all this Garbage you are commenting. Do you really think that anybody that is doing heroin really enjoys it. Perhaps you should get some knowledge on the addiction before you start typing. Unfortunately, I have a couple of friends who's children are addicted to heroin. It has torn there family apart. It has ripped the other family members hearts out. You must be aware of Heroin Epidemic here in Kings Park, as well as many other Towns. It is very sad and I am very happy that no one was physically hurt. I pray for Lisa and her family and all the other people in this Town who have similar situations going on in their Family's. I commend Lisa for being a good sister and sticking up for her Family. This is not her fault nor anybody else's it's the Heroin's fault. You are extremely ignorant. Google Heroin Addiction and get Educated!
What is she supposed to do you ask? How about not worry about what others say about her or her family? People are going to talk and people will state their opinions when a situation comes up, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one; and you feel the need to prove to have the biggest asshole. I think you should re-read my post because I clearly said "instead should be taking the advice from others because what you and your family have been doing, OBVIOUSLY isn't working." Never indicating that any of these comments are helpful. Unfortunately, this is what happens when your family is in the news for reasons other than positive ones. People will judge, and people will talk. As a person, you just keep your head up and continue on with your life because their judgements and chatter should not affect you. And I agree that the kid is "better off being loaded in a canon and shot into space". Mainly because, as a parent, your kids should always come first. I understand he suffers with an addiction, but this was not his first run in with the law for drugs. At the first sign of addiction, SOMEONE should have had an intervention. And the Lucente's knew what he was up to because he was arrested in December for the heroin highway. So at that point, someone should have stepped in and said "Hey, the mother is in the hospital, the father has an addiction, lets not allow the baby to be put into the middle of everything. " That's the responsible thin