Police: Drunk Driver Who Live-Streamed On Periscope Behind Bars

OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man who live-streamed himself on Periscope allegedly driving drunk in Long Island is behind bars.

Police told CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff that Ahmed Almalki was driving an SUV when he began live-streaming his drunken joy ride.

Viewers called 911 as they were watching it unfold as Almalki was holding a cigarette in one hand and his cell phone in the other.

CBS2 reports Almalki was allegedly chugging whiskey at his Oyster Bay home before getting behind the wheel, driving erratically on Ocean and Wantagh Parkways.

A dispatcher downloaded the Periscope app, monitored the feed and narrowed down Almalki's location by recognizing landmarks, like the Jones Beach Tower.

New York state troopers then stopped Almalki before anyone got hurt.

"An odor of alcohol was soon as they approached the car. Field sobriety tests all failed," Maj. David Candelaria, of the New York State Police, said.

Almalki, a 33-year-old graduate student from Saudi Arabia, is studying business on Long Island. He removed the video from his Periscope profile.

Paul Newhouse, Almalki's landlord, told CBS2 that he was very surprised about the incident.

"Very responsible. I'm actually very surprised to hear this behavior," Newhouse said.

State police credited the public for helping end Almalki's drunken ride.

"The public and the dispatcher were key in preventing a tragedy," Candelaria said. "This was a cooperative effort to take this guy off the road."

This is not the first time the public tipped off authorities to a crime committed live on Periscope. Last year, a Florida woman was arrested for filming herself driving drunk.

This is Almalki's second DWI arrest. He did not respond to CBS2's requests for comment.