Southampton Town police arrested a Riverhead man for driving while intoxicated in Bridgehampton early Sunday morning.

Police responded to a report of an erratic driver on Montauk Highway around 2:42 a.m. and stopped Victor Jimenez Araya, 33, for driving illegally in the center lane.

Further investigation revealed Mr. Araya was under the influence of alcohol, according to a police report.

He was charged with DWI and multiple vehicle violations, officials said.

• A Riverside man was arrested on several drug and weapons charges following a raid at his home Friday morning, according to Southampton police. Officers and detectives from the Southampton Town Police Department, along with a New York State Police K-9 unit executed a search warrant at the Vail Avenue residence early Friday and arrested Moses Bullock, 46.

Police noted that an “extensive investigation” revealed Mr. Bullock was selling crack cocaine from his residence.

Authorities recovered unspecified quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana as well as a drug scale, brass knuckles and over $6,700 in cash, according to a press release.

Mr. Bullock was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor charges of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court Friday afternoon and remanded to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, according to police.

Officials noted that the investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact Southampton police detectives at 631-702-2230 or the crime hotline at 631-728-3454.

• A Riverhead teen was arrested on assault charges following an altercation in Flanders early last Wednesday morning.

According to a police report, a 45-year-old Flanders man reported that he heard men yelling near his East Street home and when he asked them to keep it down, Jose Monts, 19, threw a glass beer bottle at his face, causing swelling and a cut inside his mouth. The caller refused medical attention. 

The men fled, but were located shortly before 3 a.m. on Old Quogue Road, police said.

Mr. Monts was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

A second man involved in the incident, a 23-year-old from Flanders, was charged with a harassment violation for allegedly pushing the victim and threatening to harm his children, reports said.

Both men were released on appearance tickets, police said.

• Police arrested Russell Jones, 63, of Riverhead for driving without a valid license in Riverside last Thursday around 5 a.m.

A responding officer saw Mr. Jones operating his vehicle without headlights and three blown tires, causing the vehicle to ride on the rims, according to a police report.

He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, along with several violations and released on an appearance ticket, police said.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

The post Southampton Blotter: Man arrested on drug and weapons charges following raid appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Southampton Town police charged a Northampton woman with endangering the welfare of a child after a 7-year-old was left alone and allegedly started two small fires in a home, according to a press release.

Police responded to a call of a house fire at about 10:45 p.m. Saturday in Northampton. Responding officers spoke to a complainant who said he found the fire had been started in his bedroom and another fire was in the kitchen area. The Riverhead Fire Department also responded, but the fire was extinguished by the time firefighters arrived.

Southampton detectives and Southampton Town fire marshals responded to investigate.

Police announced Monday that Nora Soto-Cordova, 32, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, for leaving the 7-year-old alone at the home. Child Protective Services was also notified, police said.

Police declined to say the length of time the child was left alone or to confirm the relationship between Ms. Soto-Cordova and the child. Police only confirmed it was a domestic case. Police could not immediately confirm how many people live at the home.

The post Cops: Woman arrested after child left alone causes house fire appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The attorney for the Holbrook man accused of killing a Wading River boy in an alleged drunken driving crash last year has asked for a special prosecutor in the case, alleging “misdeeds” by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and “bias” by the judge in the case.

Steven Politi of Central Islip appeared before Suffolk County Supervising Judge Mark Cohen to be heard on the petition and to request a stay in the trial of Thomas Murphy, which is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Oct. 8. Judge Cohen denied Mr. Politi’s motion for a stay and said he will issue a decision on the request for a special prosecutor by Friday.

Mr. Politi, in his petition, argued that the DA’s office has maintained what he suggested is an unusually close relationship with the family of Andrew McMorris, the 12-year-old Scout who was struck by Mr. Murphy’s vehicle and killed while on a hike in Manorville the afternoon of Sept. 30, 2018. He pointed to a drunk driving forum hosted by the district attorney’s office at which the McMorris family appeared alongside prosecutors, and public statements made by District Attorney Timothy Sini and fellow prosecutors, as “tainting” the jury pool.

“[This] sends the message to the public that Mr. Murphy was, in fact, driving drunk,” Mr. Politi wrote in his petition. “This is a fact that has not yet been proven in court.”

Mr. Politi, who replaced Mr. Murphy’s previous attorney July 31, said it’s been stated that Mr. Murphy’s blood showed a blood alcohol content of .13% more than three hours after the crash, but prosecutors have failed to disclose that his client also passed two roadside sobriety tests.

Mr. Politi also told Judge Cohen he is preparing to file a petition in appellate court to have Judge Fernando Camacho removed from the case, saying the judge has failed to be impartial and has “cut off [Mr. Murphy’s] ability to be heard on pretrial motions.”

“For whatever reason, Judge Camacho is married to this Oct. 8 [trial] date,” Mr. Politi told Judge Cohen Wednesday, adding that Mr. Murphy hasn’t been given the time to properly defend himself.

Related Coverage

• One year later, Scouts, friends and family ‘finish the hike’ for Andrew

• Attorney: Judge to rule that lawyer’s apologies can’t be used in court

In his petition for a special prosecutor, Mr. Politi alleged that the DA’s office prejudiced Judge Camacho by, among other things, submitting victim impact statements to the judge before trial. In turn, he said the judge prejudiced his client’s right to a fair trial by suggesting in open court that Mr. Murphy had led the judge to believe he would enter a guilty plea in the case, “remarks that appeared on the cover of Newsday, a widely circulated publication and the most read newspaper on Long Island.”

Speaking outside the courtroom Wednesday, Mr. Politi said it’s his understanding that no plea negotiations ever took place.

The district attorney’s office, which was represented Wednesday by appeals bureau chief Glenn Green and chief assistant district attorney William Ferris, has until noon Oct. 3 to file its opposition to Mr. Politi’s request for a special prosecutor. The judge said Mr. Politi must then file his response by 5 p.m., so he can issue a decision Friday, Oct. 4.

Judge Cohen made a request of prosecutors Wednesday, asking them to clarify if any assistant district attorneys who gathered evidence at the scene of the crash will be trying the case. In his motion, Mr. Politi stated that prosecutors Brendan Ahern and Jacob DeLauter, who have represented the DA’s office in prior court appearances, were present at the scene and should be excluded from prosecuting the case, since he believes they are potential witnesses.

Mr. Murphy, 60, who was not present Wednesday, is facing a top charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison. He is expected to return to court in Riverhead at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday for a Dunaway hearing, which is used to determine whether evidence has been seized from a defendant as a result of a search conducted without probable cause. Jury selection is expected to begin at 2:15 p.m. that day and continue through the end of the week. Testimony in the case is expected to begin Tuesday, Oct. 15, according to a memo issued by the court.

Caption: Mr. Politi speaks with reporters at a Sept. 24 court appearance for Mr. Murphy.

gparpan@timesreview.com

The post Attorney seeks special prosecutor in vehicular homicide case appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A Riverhead man was sentenced to four to six years in a federal prison for his role in a 2018 fatal overdose that led to charges against three men who allegedly supplied the victim with heroin cut with fentanyl.

John Brophy, 50, of Riverhead pleaded guilty Aug. 30 to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in jail. He had previously been charged with manslaughter in the overdose death of Lawrence Yaccarino of Riverhead, but negotiated a plea deal with prosecutors by agreeing to testify against one of his three co-defendants in the case.

Mr. Brophy allegedly sold drugs out of an auto repair shop on Lincoln Ave. in Riverhead, owned by Bryan Hale of Flanders, who also pleaded guilty to the same charge and is expected to be sentenced later this month.

Riverhead Town Police responded to the scene of the fatal overdose on Sweezey Avenue in Riverhead on Sept. 19, 2018. A preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Yaccarino, 50, overdosed on a mixture of heroin and other substances, including fentanyl.

Officials determined that Mr. Brophy, acting in concert with Mr. Hale, had allegedly sold the drugs to the victim, and that further investigation revealed that Lashawn Lawrence of Greenport was allegedly Mr. Brophy’s supplier for the narcotics. Mr. Lawrence was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter at trial last month, but found guilty of a lesser fourth-degree conspiracy charge in the case. Mr. Lawrence is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 15.

Mr. Brophy said he was sorry at his sentencing before Judge Anthony Senft Friday.

“Both of us are fighting the same demons,” he said to the victim’s family. “I didn’t sell drugs to make money. I did it to feed my own drug habit.”

Vincent Martinelli, a former NYPD officer and cousin of Mr. Yaccarino, fought back tears in the courtoom and again in the hallway before speaking with the media.

“I called [Brophy] a demon and I do believe he’s a demon,” he said. “Not only did he contribute to my cousin’s death, his actions along with all the rest [of the drug dealers] have contributed to many other deaths.”

Mr. Martinelli called his cousin a “beautiful man.”

“He was an artist, a draftsman, and he had an imagination that was a thing to behold,” he said. “He loved people like you could not believe.”

When the indictments were first announced, District Attorney Timothy Sini it was only the third time in Suffolk County history that manslaughter charges were brought against drug dealers in connection with a fatal overdose.

On Thursday he said justice has been served.

“Part of our strategy in addressing this opioid epidemic is to treat drug dealers who are causing fatal overdoes like murderers, because that’s what they are,” Mr. Sini said.

tgannon@timesreview.com

The post Riverhead drug dealer to serve 4 to 6 years following fatal overdose appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A Suffolk County judge has denied a request for a special prosecutor in the case of a Holbrook man accused of killing a Wading River boy in an alleged drunken driving crash last year.

Suffolk County Supervising Judge Mark Cohen issued his decision Friday morning, just four days before the trial is set to begin.

The decision comes 48 hours after Steven Politi of Central Islip, the attorney for defendant Thomas Murphy, filed the motion alleging “misdeeds” by the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini, which he said acted improperly by presenting victim impact letters to the court prior to a trial taking place.  He also argued the DA’s office has maintained what he suggested is an unusually close relationship with the family of Andrew McMorris, the 12-year-old Scout who was struck by Mr. Murphy’s vehicle and killed while on a hike in Manorville the afternoon of Sept. 30, 2018. Additionally, Mr. Politi said he believes the presence at the scene of the crash of prosecutors trying the case limits his ability to call them as witnesses.

In papers filed with the court Thursday, the DA’s office denied each of the charges, saying prosecutors did not gather any evidence at the scene, but rather were there to provide legal counsel to certain aspects of the investigation. The DA’s office also said it’s common for prosecutors to have a “positive rapport with the victims and their families.”

In his decision, Judge Cohen wrote that he believes the district attorney’s office has “not tipped the balance against the defendant so as to require judicial action.”

“[The district attorney’s office] has responsibilities which, at times, require a delicate balance,” Judge Cohen wrote. “The record presented plainly establishes that [the DA’s office] has understood the tensions involved in executing its responsibilities.”

Related Coverage

• Attorney seeks special prosecutor in vehicular homicide case

• One year later, Scouts, friends and family ‘finish the hike’ for Andrew

• Attorney: Judge to rule that lawyer’s apologies can’t be used in court

Mr. Politi said he has made prosecutors aware of his intent to now file a motion in appellate court to have Judge Fernando Camacho removed from the case, arguing the judge has failed to be impartial and has “cut off [Mr. Murphy’s] ability to be heard on pretrial motions.” He said he will also request a change of venue once jury selection begins Tuesday, stating that the jury pool in Suffolk County has been tainted by “inaccurate” information.

“For the last year the facts have been misreported and the facts have been doled out by the district attorney’s office to benefit their case, but they’re simply not true,” Mr. Politi said outside the courtroom Friday. In its response filed with the court Thursday, the DA’s office denied such allegations. Prosecutors declined further comment Friday.

Appearing before Judge Cohen Friday, Mr. Politi questioned the integrity of the DA’s office by asking the judge to review a pair of signatures from assistant district attorney Brendan Ahern, who he alleged did not personally sign an affirmation filed with the court Thursday. After chief assistant district attorney William Ferris stated that Mr. Ahern had signed the papers himself, the judge moved on to his decision.

Judge Cohen previously denied a motion by the defense for a stay in the trial.

Mr. Murphy, 60, who was not present Friday, is facing a top charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison. He is expected to return to court in Riverhead at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday for a hearing to determine if evidence was seized from a defendant as a result of a search conducted without probable cause.

Jury selection is expected to begin at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday and continue through the end of the week. Testimony in the case will likely begin the following week, according to a memo issued by the court.

gparpan@timesreview.com

The post Judge denies request for special prosecutor in scout’s death case appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A Riverhead teen was arrested Friday for engaging in inappropriate communications with an elementary school student at the school where he works as a custodian, Suffolk County police said.

The 18-year-old custodian, whose name police declined to release since he may be charged as a minor, asked a 7-year-old female student at John S. Hobart Elementary School in Shirley about her access to the internet and electronic means of communication, police said. He then gave the student his telephone number and told her to contact him.

Following an investigation by Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers, it was revealed the man had left what police described as “notes of adoration” in her desk prior to the in-person conversation. The school is in the William Floyd School District.

In a statement, school district officials said the custodian was employed through a youth employment program.

“We are beyond furious that an 18-year old adult male custodian employed at our school through the Department of Labor Youth Employment Program left inappropriate handwritten notes for a student,” the district wrote. “When we learned that this occurred, we immediately removed him from his post and worked collaboratively with the police department to ensure they had all of the information they needed to make an arrest. We are thankful for the efforts of the police department and will continue to work closely with them to ensure this individual is punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

The custodian, who police said lives in Riverhead, was arrested shortly before 11 a.m. Friday. He will be held overnight at the Seventh Precinct and arraigned on October 5 at First District Court in Central Islip.

Police are asking anyone who may have had similar contact with a man fitting this description to call the Seventh Precinct Crime Section at 631-852-8726.

The post Cops: Custodian from Riverhead left ‘notes of adoration’ for 7-year-old appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Riverhead volunteer firefighters knocked down a house fire in a mobile home park on Pond Drive in Riverside after a possible propane tank explosion Friday afternoon.

Riverhead Fire Department 1st Asst. Chief Bill Kelly Jr. said when firefighters arrived the home was already engulfed. He said there was fire through the windows and roof.

He said three people were home at the time of incident and everyone was outside when first responders arrived. One person was transported to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, the chief said.

He said the cause of fire is under investigation by the Southampton Town Fire Marshal.

Joseph Hoffman was watching television inside his home on an adjacent street when he heard an explosion. When he made his way outside to see what had happened he saw the fire.

“It was a big boom,” he said. “It was loud.”

He said a woman who lives next door to the fire was safely evacuated along with her dog. The side of her home facing the fire sustained some minor damage.

A man who lives at the house that was destroyed watched from across the street with no shoes on as firefighters knocked down the fire. He said he was asleep when the fire started.

About 50 firefighters responded to the scene at the Riverwoods Mobile Home Community.

A firefighters hoses down the fire. (Credit: Joe Werkmeister)

Chief Kelly said the close proximity of the homes was a concern for firefighters to make sure the fire did not spread.

“You don’t want that to catch, then you got another problem on your hand,” he said.

Members of the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Corps both responded to the scene and the Flanders Fire Department assisted on standby at Riverhead headquarters.

joew@timesreview.com

The post Riverhead FD extinguishes mobile home fire in Riverside appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

New York State police arrested a Riverhead man on drug charges Friday. 

In a press release, police said James Noack, 40, was stopped on Main Street around 12:15 a.m. for a traffic violation.

Further investigation revealed Mr. Noack was in possession of cocaine, police said.

He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and released on an appearance ticket to Riverhead Justice Court.

• Stanislaw Pawezka, 60, of Riverhead was arrested Saturday afternoon for aggravated driving while intoxicated, according to Riverhead Town police.

Police responded to a report of a two-car accident on Route 58 around 3 p.m. Officers conducted interviews with both drivers and further investigated Mr. Pawezka due to suspected alcohol involvement. Mr. Pawezka was allegedly driving with a blood alcohol content above .18 percent, reports said.

Mr. Pawezka was arrested and charged with aggravated DWI and his vehicle was impounded, reports said.

• James Mcentee, 23, of Riverhead was arrested early Sunday morning for DWI, police said.

Police responded to a report of a two-car accident on Edwards Avenue. Police conducted an interview with both drivers and found Mr. Mcentee was driving while intoxicated.

He was arrested at 4:55 a.m. and charged with DWI and transported to Riverhead Police Department headquarters, where he was processed and held for arraignment.

• Police are investigating a report of grand larceny that occurred on Pulaski Street last week, reports said.

A male reported that sometime between 8 p.m. last Tuesday and 7 a.m. last Wednesday, an unknown individual removed numerous tools from his unlocked 2002 Freightliner van on Pulaski Street.

The individual allegedly stole over $6,700 worth of equipment, including chop-saws, cordless drills, a saw, a leaf-blower and several nail guns and batteries.

Additional information regarding the incident was not available. A suspect has not been found but would be charged with grand larceny, a felony.

• Two men from Queens were arrested in Riverhead Sunday afternoon after they attempted to steal from the Abercrombie & Fitch store at Tanger Outlets, reports said.

Nicolas Esteban Cortez Revera, 23, of Jamaica and Jose Reinaldo Pico, 55, of Jackson Heights allegedly tried to remove four shirts valued at $199 from the Riverhead store. The reporting individual told police the two men fled south in Tanger 2. He followed them and watched them enter the Gap Outlet.

The individual then identified Mr. Cortez Revera and Mr. Reinaldo Pico as they exited the store.

Both were arrested and charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor. They were each released on $500 bail and issued an appearance ticket for Wednesday, Oct. 9.

• Police are investigating a report of petit larceny that occurred at Brooks Brothers store at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead Sunday afternoon, reports said.

Police said around 3:15 p.m., two unknown individuals entered the store and removed a stack of eight red sweaters valued at $912 total and fled the store.

The incident was captured on video surveillance, reports said, but the officer on duty could not immediately identify the suspects.

The suspects were described as a white male and female in their early 50s wearing blue jeans.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

The post Riverhead Blotter: Traffic stop leads to drug bust in Riverhead appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Southampton Town police arrested a taxi driver in Riverside last Tuesday after a report of an unrestrained infant in the back seat.

Alexander Pappas, 59, of Riverhead was operating a Star Light Taxi northbound on Peconic Avenue when he was stopped and officers discovered his license had been suspended three times in September, officials said.

Mr. Pappas was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and several vehicle and traffic violations. He was released on an appearance ticket, police said.

• A 38-year-old Riverside man called police Friday around 4:41 a.m. after he heard his dog barking and saw the doors to two cars in his driveway wide open. It’s unclear if anything was removed from the vehicles.

• Police responded to a Wood Road Trail residence last Wednesday after a resident reported to police that an unknown person entered his property and stole a boat battery, tire and rim overnight.

Police were unable to locate any suspects, according to a report, but are conducting extra patrols of the Flanders neighborhood.

• A 53-year-old Flanders man called police last Tuesday afternoon to report that an unknown person cut the valve stem on a tire on his vehicle in his driveway overnight.

• Police arrested a 24-year-old Riverside woman for a harassment violation after she allegedly grabbed her housemate’s hair and scratched her face during a dispute over a shared kitchen last Tuesday afternoon, according to a police report.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

The post Southampton Blotter: Taxi driver had license suspended three times appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A Riverhead teenager who attempted to initiate an inappropriate relationship with a 7-year-old girl while working as a custodian at an elementary school pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Saturday.

Judge Eric Sachs set bail at $7,500 cash or $15,000 bond, citing the ages of the victim and defendant, at First District Court in Central Islip. Jonathan Sovinsky, 18, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

Tensions escalated inside the courtroom when the father of the victim, seated in the first row available for the audience, stood up at the end of the arraignment and shouted toward Mr. Sovinsky.

“This is the beginning, pedophile,” he said.

He was asked to leave the courtroom and then said “I got no problem doing that, pedophile.”

He looked over to family members of the defendant and called them “pedophile family.”

“It ain’t done,” he said, while adding expletives.

As soon as Mr. Sovinsky was brought into the courtroom, the father leaned over the bench in front of him and peered toward the teenager. More than a half-dozen court officers were in close proximity to the defendant during the arraignment and another officer stood at the entryway where the attorneys are seated. Outside the courthouse afterward, two court officers were in the parking lot in case anything escalated. The victim and defendant’s family did not appear to cross paths while leaving the courthouse.

Because the charge is a misdemeanor and Mr. Sovinsky is under 19, he could be granted youthful offender status by the judge if he’s found guilty. Suffolk County police declined to release his name at the time of the arrest Friday. Mr. Sovinsky turns 19 in December and his name was used in open court Saturday.

Judge Sachs issued an order of protection to bar Mr. Sovinsky from making contact with the victim or the victim’s family.

“Don’t breathe in their direction,” the judge said to him.

The prosecutor said Mr. Sovinsky attempted to initiate a relationship with the girl by providing two sticky notes. One note said he was a secret admirer and sought her contact info. The second sticky note listed his contact information.

The prosecutor said Mr. Sovinsky admitted to wanting to get the girl’s contact information and passing along his contact info. He allegedly advised the girl to keep the communication a secret.

The prosecutor had requested $10,000 bail due to the “very serious nature of the case.”

Mr. Sovinsky does not have any prior arrests, the attorney representing him, Paul Barahal of Smithtown, said in court. A mental health screening was also requested and granted.

“The only allegation I see against him is that he gave her his phone number,” Mr. Barahal said outside the courtroom as Mr. Sovinsky’s mother left in tears.

The victim is a student at John S. Hobart Elementary School in Shirley, which is part of the William Floyd School District. In a statement Friday, the district said the custodian was employed through the Department of Labor Youth Employment Program.

The prosecutor declined to comment after the arraignment, deferring to a DA spokesperson. The DA spokesperson, Sheila Kelly, did not respond to a request for comment Saturday.

Mr. Sovinsky is due back in court Monday.

joew@timesreview.com

The post Riverhead teen held on $7.5K bail; tensions escalate inside courtroom appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A man was seriously injured Sunday night after his motorcycle struck a deer while driving on Route 25 just west of Manor Road in Calverton, Riverhead Town police said.

The man was found injured in the roadway shortly after the 8:22 p.m. crash. He was treated at the scene by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance before being airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital by Suffolk Police helicopter.

Investigators determined the man struck a deer in the roadway.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call Riverhead police at 631-727-4500, ext. 328.

The post Police: Motorcyclist injured after striking deer on Route 25 appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Riverhead Town police are investigating a report of a stolen motorcycle in Wading River.

A black 2015 Kawasaki “Ninja” motorcycle was stolen sometime between 9:30 p.m. Sunday and 9 a.m. Monday, according to police. The motorcycle was parked on the side of Wading River Manorville Road, just south of Middle Country Road in Wading River.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 631-727-4500, ext. 332. All calls will be kept confidential.

Information can also be sent in writing to:

Riverhead Police Department
210 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, N.Y. 11901
Attn: Detective Division

The post Cops: Kawasaki motorcycle stolen from side of road in Wading River appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Testimony in the trial of a Holbrook man accused of killing a Wading River boy scout in an alleged drunken driving crash last year has been pushed back to November.

On Tuesday, the day jury selection was expected to begin in the case of 60-year-old Thomas Murphy, it was determined by Acting Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho that due to a number of requests by the defense — and a concern by prosecutors that a witness will soon be traveling abroad — testimony will not begin until early next month.

Despite the delay, there was still plenty of drama on display in the courtroom Tuesday as Judge Camacho and attorney Steven Politi engaged in several heated exchanges over applications filed in defense of Mr. Murphy, who stands accused of striking and killing 12-year-old Andrew McMorris with his vehicle while the boy was on a hike with fellow scouts in Manorville on Sept. 30, 2018.

Tuesday’s appearance, which included the start of a probable cause hearing — one of the final hurdles to clear before a jury is chosen, came one day after Mr. Politi filed a motion with the Appellate Court in Brooklyn asking for Judge Camacho to be removed from the trial. That matter has been adjourned until Oct. 30.

Mr. Politi has also requested that Judge Camacho recuse himself, though the judge made it clear he has no plans to do so.

“This case is not about me,” Judge Camacho said inside the courtroom. “It’s also not about Mr. Politi and it’s not about [Assistant District Attorney Brendan] Ahern. It’s about Mr. Murphy and it’s about [Andrew] McMorris.”

Mr. Ahern, the chief of the DA’s vehicular crime bureau, told Judge Camacho he believes it’s likely the defense’s motion to have the judge removed from the case will “be denied in its entirety.”

Prior to the start of the probable cause hearing Tuesday, Mr. Politi argued a series of applications over concerns the defense wanted addressed prior to the trial’s start. They mostly related to issues the defense felt might prohibit Mr. Murphy from receiving a fair trial.

Mr. Politi said he was concerned about Judge Camacho’s decision to move the case to a larger courtroom in Riverhead, saying the new location required his client to travel farther and is closer to the McMorris family’s home in Wading River. He said Mr. Murphy, who is facing a top charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, has health issues that make traveling difficult.

The move, which the judge said he anticipated from the beginning of the case, was to accommodate what he expects to be large crowds of supporters for the McMorris family. The new courtroom has 96 seats, allowing more than twice as many people to attend the proceedings.

Mr. Politi also raised concerns over the conduct and attire of individuals who might attend. He asked the judge to consider barring any Boy Scouts from wearing uniforms and requested that no one be allowed to wear clothing bearing Andrew’s likeness. He argued doing so might unfairly influence the jury.

Mr. Politi said he’s concerned for his client’s well-being, pointing to a Newsday article he said suggested that the McMorris family had urged supporters to make Mr. Murphy uncomfortable in court.

“There’s a lot of venom,” Mr. Politi said.

Related Coverage

• Judge denies request for special prosecutor in scout’s death case

• Attorney: Judge to rule that lawyer’s apologies can’t be used in court

• One year later, Scouts, friends and family ‘finish the hike’ for Andrew

Both Mr. Ahern and Judge Camacho scoffed at the suggestion of any improprieties by the McMorris family and their supporters.

“I’ve observed this group on numerous occasions acting with respect, courteousness and dignity,” Judge Camacho said. “I’ve not seen a single thing that’s inappropriate.”

Instead, the Judge offered his disapproval of the conduct of both Mr. Murphy and his attorney during Tuesday’s proceedings. At one point the judge stopped his remarks to ask Mr. Murphy to “not make gestures.” It was unclear to the audience what the judge was referring to.

“I just feel like we’re being rushed,” Mr. Murphy responded. “That’s all.”

Judge Camacho also stood up at one point to ask Mr. Politi to leave the courtroom.

“This is now seven times,” Judge Camacho said in reference to the number of warnings he’d given Mr. Politi over his conduct during his applications. “Step out and take a deep breath.”

Prosecutors also made a request Tuesday, calling for a gag order barring attorneys and others associated with the case from speaking with the media. That motion was denied.

The Dunaway hearing, which is used to determine if evidence was seized from a defendant as a result of a search conducted without probable cause, will continue Wednesday. Jury selection is now expected to begin Thursday. Judge Camacho is also expected to rule on the latest and final round of pretrial motions Wednesday.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the arresting officer, Daniel Brecht of Suffolk’s Seventh Precinct, testified that Mr. Murphy admitted to having three drinks on the day of the crash after first admitting to having only one drink. Mr. Murphy also declined to take a breath test. Officer Brecht testified that Mr. Murphy had trouble keeping his balance during roadside sobriety tests and “it became clear he might fall over and hurt his head.” Mr. Politi argued his client’s weight may have impacted his ability to remain balanced.

When asked about his exchange with Mr. Murphy in the moments after arriving on scene the day of the crash, Mr. Brecht said Mr. Murphy repeatedly asked if the scouts he struck were OK.

“I told him the truth,” Mr. Brecht said. “They were not OK.”

gparpan@timesreview.com

The post Start of trial delayed in scout’s death following emotionally charged day in court appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Three Riverhead Town police officers were honored Tuesday for their role in disarming a man with a shotgun in Sunken Pond Estates on Sept. 25. 

“We have three police officers that acted quickly and decisively to assist one of our residents, putting themselves in harms way,” said Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith.

The officers are Cameron Oswald, Giuseppe Rosini and William Bianco. The incident occurred at about 6:20 p.m. when police received a call of a male subject armed with a shotgun at Sunken Pond Estates, which is north of Middle Road, according to Police Chief David Hegermiller.

“These three officers responded and through their brave and quick actions, were able to disarm the man and safely detain him so he could be transported to Stony Brook University Medical Center for psychiatric evaluation,” the chief said.  “They did an excellent job and we’re here to commend them today.”

tgannon@timesreview.com

The post Riverhead police officers honored for quick action disarming man with gun appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Six alleged Bloods gang members who “terrorized” the Riverhead area for nearly a decade were arrested Wednesday morning on multiple charges, including murder, following an investigation by the FBI Long Island Gang Task Force.

A superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip Wednesday charging the six members of the Red Stone Gorillas “set” of the Bloods street gang, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Four of the defendants were arrested Wednesday morning. The gang’s alleged leader, Jimmy Dean, 41, of Calverton and Terrill Latney, 39, of Riverhead were already in custody, federal officials said.

The defendants were tied to the 2015 murder of 27-year-old Thomas Lacolla, who was shot and killed in a vehicle outside a Riverhead home. The intended victim was a different person, officials said. Mr. Dean had issued the order for the killing and Mr. Latney and others carried out the botched murder, officials said. Mr. Lacolla was sitting in the intended victim’s car.

Also arrested were Corey Belcher, 34, of Riverhead; Willie Belcher, 33, of Flanders; Roger Foster, 22, of Baiting Hollow and Eric Ross, 27, of Flanders.

They are charged with racketeering, murder, robberies, narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, officials said.

“These are extremely dangerous gang members who are responsible not only for conspiring to commit murder, but for consistently driving crime on the East End through drug dealing and illegal firearm offenses,” Suffolk County district attorney Timothy Sini said in a statement.

The gang members allegedly distributed large quantities of crack cocaine, powder cocaine and heroin in the Riverhead area, officials said.

On Aug. 1, 2015, Mr. Foster and others shot and wounded a suspected member of the rival Crips gang and a female bystander, officials said. Mr. Dean was arrested in 2016 at which point Mr. Latney, Mr. Foster and others assumed control of the gang’s drug distribution operations.

Mr. Latney is described as Mr. Dean’s “right hand man” in the distribution of large quantities of cocaine.

The defendants face maximum sentences of up to life imprisonment.

“We truly appreciate the unprecedented cooperation and assistance from our federal, state and county law enforcement partners in helping us to remove these criminals from our local communities here on the East End of Long Island,” Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said in a statement.

The FBI assistant director-in-charge, William Sweeney, said the arrests were the culmination of several years of “intensive investigation.”

“These subjects have allegedly created such a violent environment in parts of the town where they operate that they were dealing out in the open without fear,” Mr. Sweeney said.

He described the arrests as a “huge dent” in the operation.

Mr. Latney was among 15 people arrested in November 2018 following a multi-agency investigation into street gangs and narcotics in Riverhead. That arrest spearheaded the latest round of arrests.

Mr. Foster has a long history of arrests dating back to his teenage years as a student at Riverhead High School. He allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint in Flanders in 2014 when he was 17, according to prior reports. Last year he was arrested by Riverhead police for possession of a loaded firearm. He pleaded guilty in August to a felony charge of criminal possession of a firearm and was due to be sentenced Nov. 14, according to online court records.

The four defendants arrested Wednesday were arraigned before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert. The two defendants already in custody were to be arraigned at a later date.

“Through murder, assaults and drug sales, these members and associates of the Bloods’ Red Stone Gorillas posed a grave danger to communities on eastern Long Island,” said Richard Donoghue, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The Red Stone Gorillas, known as the Stones, allegedly had a rivalry not only with the Crips, but also with members of other sets of the Bloods such as the Nine Trey Gangsters and Low Rider Brims, which operated in and around Riverhead, according to the indictment.

The charges listed against them in the latest indictment outline conspiracies to murder to four different people. Between November 2014 and July 2016, Mr. Dean, Mr. Latney, Mr. Ross and Willie Belcher conspired to kill a person identified as John Doe #1, according to the indictment. A second charge is listed for a John Doe #2.

Around July 3, 2016, Mr. Dean, Mr. Ross and others conspired to cause the death of an individual identified as John Doe #4.

The indictment lists 19 counts against the defendants.

Corey Belcher has one prior conviction for misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and Willie Belcher has one prior conviction for marijuana possession, according to court documents. Mr. Ross has two prior felony convictions. Most recently he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in 2017.

Photo caption: Police on scene of the fatal shooting in 2015 on Old Quogue Road. (Credit: file photo)

The post Feds: Bloods gang members who ‘terrorized’ Riverhead arrested appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

The defense attorney for the Holbrook man accused of killing a Wading River boy in an alleged drunken driving crash in Manorville last year argued at a two-day hearing in Riverside this week that Suffolk police lacked probable cause to make an arrest.

Throughout the hearing, attorney Steven Politi attempted to establish inconsistencies with the testimony of Suffolk County police officer Daniel Brecht and the reports he filed at the time of the crash that killed 12-year-old boy scout Andrew McMorris.

Mr. Politi, the attorney for Thomas Murphy, 60, suggested his client’s health may have played a role in the lack of balance he allegedly displayed on the afternoon of the crash and said police did not have enough evidence that his client was driving drunk at the time they placed him under arrest.

“I believe they made an arrest founded on less than probable cause,” Mr. Politi told Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho. “[They said] ‘Arrest him and we’ll sort it out later.’”

Mr. Brecht had testified Tuesday that Mr. Murphy had trouble keeping his balance during roadside sobriety tests and “it became clear he might fall over and hurt his head.”

On Wednesday, the second day of the probable cause hearing, Mr. Brecht, upon cross-examination by Mr. Politi, admitted that he did not write in his reports that he was concerned Mr. Murphy would fall and hurt himself. Instead, he wrote simply that Mr. Murphy was “unable to keep his balance” and “unsteady on his feet.” He also testified that he described Mr. Murphy’s footwear as sneakers in his reports, but recently learned he was wearing rubber golf cleats.

Mr. Politi also questioned some of the times listed on Mr. Brecht’s report, saying a radio transmission calling in the arrest suggested he waited nearly six minutes to report the arrest after Mr. Murphy refused a breath test. While prosecutors have said Mr. Murphy’s blood alcohol content was .13%, that is based on a blood sample taken several hours later.

Mr. Politi attempted to establish that Mr. Brecht may have consulted with a detective who was on the scene before making the arrest, but Mr. Brecht testified that he did not speak with Det. Sgt. Steven Guyer until afterward. That’s important, the attorney told the judge, because he believes there are contradictions in the reports of the two officers that establish a lack of probable cause.

But Judge Camacho denied the request of Mr. Politi to call Det. Sgt. Guyer as a witness at the probable cause hearing. Assistant District Attorney Brendan Ahern had objected, arguing that Mr. Politi was using the hearing to expand discovery.

The judge ultimately determined that Mr. Politi’s theory of an “alleged conspiracy at the scene, may be a trial issue but it is not an issue at [the probable cause] hearing.”

Testimony in the case against Mr. Murphy, who is facing a top charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, which carries a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison, is expected to start in early November. Judge Camacho has indicated he expects the trial to last three to five weeks.

Request for recusal

Before jury selection began Thursday, Judge Camacho addressed Mr. Politi’s request for the judge to recuse himself from the case by asking the attorney if he still wished to have him removed. On Monday, Mr. Politi filed a motion with the Appellate Court in Brooklyn asking for Judge Camacho to be removed from the trial, but that matter has been adjourned until Oct. 30.

Mr. Politi responded Thursday by saying he believes the judge is “treating him differently” in this particular case than he has in the past.

Judge Camacho responded by saying Mr. Politi has “never acted the way you’ve been acting in this case.”

The judge said it’s the first time in his career that he’s been asked to recuse himself and he takes the accusations against him seriously, but has no intention of stepping aside.

“I really want to proceed in this case,” he said.

The discussion came after several tense moments between the judge, the defense and, at times, prosecutors during the probable cause hearing.

On Wednesday, after Mr. Politi denied shaking his head at one of Judge Camacho’s statements, the judge said he was considering holding him in contempt.

“In 23 years I have never held anyone in contempt, especially a lawyer,” Judge Camacho said. “I would like to end my career that way. Please don’t push me.”

Mr. Politi and Mr. Ahern also frequently expressed displeasure with each other, with each accusing the other of misrepresenting facts.

“We’re not going to be calling each other liars,” Mr. Ahern said at one point during the hearing. “That’s not what lawyers do.”

Judge Camacho warned both sides that he — and the eventual jury — has to be able to listen to facts without any distractions and name calling.”

Jury selection

A long line of prospective jurors snaked outside the court complex Thursday, as more than 200 eligible residents were called for the first day of jury selection.

The first group called consisted of 120 people who were brought into the courtroom and introduced to both prosecutors and the defense. The judge then asked a series of questions of each juror, but told them he didn’t want a show of hands to avoid them influencing each other.

Instead they were asked to step outside the room to be called back individually. In total, 82 people were questioned Thursday with 16 of them ordered to come back for the next stage of jury selection beginning Oct. 21. The remaining prospective jurors were asked to return Friday when the potential juror pool will be expanded again.

“It’s going to take us some time to select a jury in this case,” Judge Camacho said to the jurors.

• About three-quarters of the potential jurors questioned Thursday said they were aware of the case. When asked by Judge Camacho to recount details of what they’d heard, several cited news reports that Andrew and fellow scouts were struck while walking on the “side of the road.”

Mr. Politi took issue with that, saying it’s the defense’s position that the children were hiking in the roadway when the crash occurred. Judge Camacho then asked potential jurors if they would be open minded about that defense position.

• At one point before the jurors were brought in Thursday, Mr. Murphy was rushed out of the courtroom to use the restroom and said he wasn’t feeling well. Judge Camacho asked if he needed medical assistance, but he declined.

gparpan@timesreview.com

The post Attorney says police lacked evidence to arrest driver in scout’s death; jury selection begins appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A multi-vehicle crash in Wading River closed a portion of Sound Avenue near Hulse Landing Road Friday afternoon.

One vehicle in the crash went airborne and landed on its side, trapping the driver, according to a witness at the scene. The driver was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center, according to a fire official at scene.

First responders from the Wading River and Ridge fire departments responded to the scene with Riverhead police and Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps. At least three other vehicles were involved in the crash, which occurred was just west of Hulse Landing Road, shortly after 4 p.m.

The number and extent of any injuries is not yet available.

Photo caption: One vehicle landed on its side. (Credit: Cyndi Zaweski)

*This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.*

The post Multi-vehicle crash on Sound Avenue in Wading River appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

Donald Flannery, 47, of Hampton Bays was arrested Friday evening in Riverhead for driving without a license, police reports said.

Around 10 p.m., Mr. Flannery was driving a 2010 Toyota Tundra on West Main Street when he was stopped outside the Greenview Motel for a vehicle and traffic stop. Upon further investigation police found he was driving without a license.

Mr. Flannery was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and a violation for driving without a license plate light. He was transported to Riverhead Police Department headquarters for processing and later transported to Southampton Town police on a warrant out of Southampton Town Court.

• Keith Rose, 39, of Coram was arrested for theft last Wednesday outside the Aldi store in Riverhead, police reports said.

The store manager told police that at approximately 5:58 p.m. a white male exited the store with over $100 in food items that had not been paid for, reports said. The manager monitored the suspect, who remained in the parking lot outside the store, until police arrived.

Police approached Mr. Rose, who was in possession of the stolen food items. He was arrested, charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and transported to Riverhead Police Department headquarters, where he was processed and held for arraignment.

• Police are investigating the cause of an assault that occurred on Pulaski Street in Riverhead Saturday afternoon, reports said.

Around 1:21 p.m., a Riverhead man told police he was struck in the face by two unknown men, believed to be age 21, reports said. The victim was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center via Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance for injuries, police reports said.

The two suspects fled in an unknown direction. No property was removed and no cause or reason was known for the incident.

• Police are investigating a reported grand larceny that occurred on Pulaski Street in Riverhead Friday, reports said.

Around 8:13 a.m., a Riverhead man told police an unknown subject removed $3,850 worth of equipment from a locked 2010 GMC van at the location. The suspect allegedly stole two green torch gas tanks, two skill saws, six cordless drills, three battery chargers, a metal cutting tool, five nail guns and a table and chop saw, police reports said. Most of the stolen items were DeWalt brand tools.

A suspect has not been found but would be charged with grand larceny, a felony.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

The post Riverhead Blotter: Police investigating assault on Pulaski Street appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

James Richard Nowack, 40, of Riverhead was arrested last Tuesday around 1:51 a.m. near Riverleigh Avenue in Riverside for a first-offense robbery, using or threatening the use of a dangerous instrument and for obstructing governmental administration in the second degree. Police said that after arresting Mr. Nowack and while processing him, he became aggressive, wrestling with officers and refusing to comply with the arrest process.

• Carlos Garcia, 33, of Riverhead was arrested near Peconic Avenue in Riverside last Thursday around 11:52 p.m. for driving while intoxicated. Mr. Garcia was also involved in a single car accident in which he struck a light pole at the traffic circle near Peconic Avenue, according to Southampton Police. This was Mr. Garcia’s first DWI.

• Chestin Henry, 46, of Flanders was arrested Friday around 6:49 p.m. near Point Road in Flanders for assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon with intent to cause physical injury in the fourth degree and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.

• Marie Pia, 48, of Mastic Beach was arrested Sunday around 12:24 a.m. for a DWI, improperly turning at an intersection and for moving unsafely from a lane. She was also charged for operating a motor vehicle under the influence, while having had a previous DWI within the last 10 years. Ms. Pia, police said, was stopped for making a wide right turn, failing to maintain her lane of travel by crossing over and driving on the white shoulder line three times. She was arrested in Riverside, near Old Quogue Road.

• Stephen Thrall, 60, of Riverhead was arrested Sunday around 2:15 a.m. for a first-offense aggravated DWI charge and equipment violation, in which he did not have his headlights on. Police said Mr. Thrall was headed northbound on Lynn Avenue near Argnone Road in Hampton Bays with his headlights off. When pulled over, he was determined to be intoxicated.

• Jason Jermaine Moore, 42, of Holtsville was arrested near Riverleigh Avenue in Riverside around 5:06 p.m. Sunday for criminal trespassing in the third degree, on a fenced in or enclosed property, and for petit larceny. Police said they stopped Mr. Moore, who was on foot, and was believed to be involved in a prior larceny/criminal trespassing case.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

The post Southampton Blotter: Riverhead man charged with robbery appeared first on Riverhead News Review.

A Smokey Bear sign installed in Manorville in August was cut down and stolen during the week of Oct. 7 and DEC officials are seeking the public’s help to locate it.

The sign was installed Aug. 9 to honor Smokey Bear’s 75th anniversary as the nation’s forest fire prevention symbol. The sign was placed at the DEC’s Otis Pike Preserve, at the intersection of Line Road and Grumman Road. The field has long been used by DEC forest rangers and volunteers to teach about wildfire control efforts, such as prescribed fires.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call DEC’s Office of Public Protection at 518-408-5858.

The aftermath of the stolen sign. (Credit: DEC)

The post Smokey Bear sign stolen from Otis Pike Preserve in Manorville appeared first on Riverhead News Review.