The state police barracks in Riverside used to be located east on Route 24, in the Red Creek area away from the hamlet center. (Credit: News-Review)

State Senator Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) and Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) said in a joint letter this week that a statewide shortage of New York State Troopers is to blame for the decision to lock the front door at the Riverside barracks and have troopers dispatched from Farmingdale.

The two lawmakers sent the letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and Joseph D’Amico, the Superintendent of the State Police.

“We believe it is critically important that additional Trooper classes be initiated, and we remain committed to ensuring that the necessary funds are included in the upcoming 2016-17 state budget for the purpose of training recruits,” the letter read. “While we understand that many agencies and departments experience staffing issues from time to time, it appears as though this staffing shortage is negatively affecting the police services provided to our communities.”

The legislators said reducing the Trooper presence and locking the facility, which first opened in 2004 on land owned by Southampton Town, is a “step backward” in stemming crime in the area.

“It took a tremendous amount of work at all levels to obtain the land and secure the necessary state dollars to build and outfit this facility,” the two lawmakers said. 

Major Joseph Tripodo, the commanding officer of Troop L, which covers all of Suffolk and Nassau counties, told The News-Review last week that the Riverside barracks will lock the front door and consolidate its dispatch, likely at the end of this month.

Some local residents have opposed the move to close the door of the facility.

But Major Tripodo said he doesn’t anticipate public opposition to change the outcome, since the decision to move the dispatcher came from higher-ups in Albany.

Unlike town police, which have civilian dispatchers, the state police used two troopers, one in the day, and one at night, to dispatch, answer calls and man the front desk for walk-in traffic.

The change will put those two officers on the street patroling, instead of in the building answering calls, Major Tripodo said.

Calls to the Riverhead barracks will go to Farmingdale, and Troopers there will dispatch police cars in Zone 2, which covers Suffolk County, and for which Riverside is the zone headquarters, he said.

“The objective is to get the troopers off the desk and onto the road on patrol,” he said.

There will still be a full compliment of officers in the building, although Major Tripodo acknowledged there may be times where there is no one in the building.

The front door will be locked but it will have a dial-in phone to officers inside the building, who have been instructed to answer it and come to the door if needed.

tgannon@timesreview.com

Ten pumpkins were damaged along with three sections of fence and corn maze at Harbes Family Farm on Main Road in Jamesport Friday morning, according to Riverhead Town police. The value of the damage was estimated at $600, police said.

Pumpkins were also damaged at Harbes earlier this month.

• A Dolphin Way resident told police Oct. 13 that someone illegally used their identity to open new debit cards, which were then used to make $2,557 worth of purchases, police said.

• A wallet that contained $500 worth gift cards was reported stolen from a car parked at Clovis Point Wines on Main Road in Jamesport Sunday afternoon, according to police.

• A 2015 Toyota 4-Runner that had previously been reported stolen in Riverhead Town was recovered in Southold Town early Sunday morning, according to Riverhead police.

• Tina Costello, 47, of Woodland Drive in Mastic Beach was charged with petit larceny on Sunday night at about 7 p.m. at the Route 58 Target store. She is accused of stealing assorted women’s clothing, police said.

• Melissa McFarland, 28, of Flanders was charged with petit larceny at the Route 58 Kmart Oct. 15, according to police, who said she removed baby formula and baby bibs from the store.

• William McDougal, 49, of East Main Street in Riverhead was charged with second-degree harassment on Sunday night at about 6 p.m., according to police. Additional information was not available.

• Maurice Harris, 39, of Margarette Drive in Coram was charged with petit larceny Saturday afternoon at about 4:44 p.m. at Walmart on Route 58.

• Jason Mendick, age and address unavailable, was charged with driving while intoxicated following an auto accident in which he hit a fire hydrant on Highview Drive in Wading River. The incident occurred just after midnight Sunday morning, according to police.

• A woman removed a purse containing an iPhone 5C and reading glasses from a car parked on Main Road in Jamesport Oct. 13 and fled in an unknown direction, according to police.

• Someone bought $20 worth of gas with a counterfeit $100 bill at the Route 58 BP gas station just before 8 p.m. Oct. 13 and fled the area, police said.

• A mountain bike was reported stolen from the parking lot at Target on Route 58 Oct. 14 at about 7:40 p.m., according to police.

• A wallet was reported stolen at the Route 58 Walmart and the suspect used credit cards that were in that wallet to make purchases at area stores, according to police, who are still investigating the case.

• A woman stole $55 worth of items from the Kmart store on Route 58 Sunday afternoon, according to police.

State troopers announced four arrests across Riverhead and Flanders over the past week, including three drunk driving arrests and one for drug possession.

The first arrest occurred Tuesday, when Christina Schlachter, 22, of Jamesport was pulled over while driving on East Main Street in Riverhead for failing to stay in her lane, according to a news release. Police said Ms. Schlachter’s license had previously been suspended 16 times, and that police discovered she was in possession of a controlled substance and marijuana.

She was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, police said. Ms. Schlachter was released with a date to appear in Riverhead Town court.

The next day, Antonio Aju Saquimux, 40, of Flanders was stopped on Flanders Road after his vehicle was reportedly seen “operating erratically.” Troopers found Mr. Aju Saquimux was intoxicated and arrested him at the scene. He was charged with DWI and issued a ticket to appear in Southampton Town court.

Another drunk driving arrest, this one a felony, was made on Saturday, police reported.

Santos Moreno, 48, of Riverhead — who had previously been convicted of DWI within the past 10 years, police said — was stopped on County Route 104 for tailgating another vehicle, according to the police news release. A state trooper found Mr. Moreno was intoxicated and arrested him at the scene.

On Saturday, state troopers reportedly caught another drunk driver.

Police said Cesar Ramirez-Vasquez, 28, of Westhampton was seen driving out of his lane on Route 25 in Riverhead. He was pulled over and arrested after police determined he was intoxicated.

Mr. Ramirez-Vasquez was charged with DWI and released with a ticket and a future court date in Riverhead Town court.

Southampton Town Police arrested a drunken driver on Sunday after the Riverhead man allegedly hit a police car on Flanders Road and led cops on a foot chase, according to a police report.

Valentin Carrizal, 27, faces a felony assault charge from the early-morning incident in Flanders that left a police officer injured, police said. The officer was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center.

After Mr. Carrizal struck the police car at about 2:20 a.m., he continued driving and eventually fled on foot after police caught up to him, according to police. Mr. Carrizal faces numerous misdemeanor charges, including resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. He was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

The officer was injured during the foot chase, police said.

In 2013, Mr. Carrizal was pled guilty to DWAI, reduced from DWI, and had his license was suspended for 90 days, according to a Riverhead News-Review article.

Three suspects charged in the shooting death of 21-year-old Demitri Hampton during a home invasion in 2013 will be arraigned on a grand jury indictment Friday, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.

Last Wednesday, Michael Parrish, 26, of Coram; Danielle Hall, 39, of Calverton and Corry Wallace, 40, of Riverhead were charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing. They pleaded not guilty during their arraignments in Southampton Town Justice Court and were ordered held without bail by Judge Edward Burke.

Mr. Hampton was fatally shot in an early-morning home invasion in Flanders on Jan. 27, 2013. The 21-year-old was staying with his girlfriend at a cousin’s house when two masked men stormed into the home about 3 a.m.

Mr. Hampton was up late playing video games in the basement, and rushed upstairs to confront the armed men. He tried to fight them off in the kitchen but was shot in the chest during the struggle. He later died of his injuries at a local hospital.

The investigation is still pending and two other arrests are expected, according to assistant district attorney Glenn Kurtzrock.

State Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro is expected to unseal the indictment on Friday.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Photo Caption: Michael Parrish, Danielle Hall and Corry Wallace. (Credit: Suffolk County Police)

A Riverhead man arrested for drugs possession during an East End Drugs Task Force raid was held on bail after he was arraigned in Riverhead Town court Wednesday morning.

Rakeem Miles, 23, is being held on $250,000 bail set by Judge Richard Ehlers. A Suffolk County assistant district attorney told the court Mr. Miles currently has an open felony case, though additional information about that case wasn’t immediately available.

The defendant will be represented by attorney Christopher Brocato, who was not in court with him on Wednesday. Mr. Miles did not enter a formal plea to the charges against him.

Mr. Miles was arrested Tuesday evening when the East End Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 641 Doctors Path, Apt. 33 with the help of Riverhead Town police after an investigation into drug sales at the apartment, police said.

Rakeem Miles was arrested on multiple drug charges after police recovered crack cocaine, heroin and drug paraphernalia including scales and packaging material in the raid, according to a police news release.

He was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession, a felony, and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, also a felony, police said. He also faces two misdemeanor charges for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, police said.

It was his second arrest in the past three months, according to Riverhead Town police.

Mr. Miles was one of two people arrested earlier this year on two counts of intent to sell heroin and cocaine, according to a prior article in the News-Review. He pled not guilty to those charges on Sept. 24 and is due back in court Dec. 7, according to online court documents.

Photo Credit: Rakeem Miles (Credit: Riverhead police)

Two Amityville men were indicted on murder charges in the death of a 36-year-old man whose body was found burning in the woods in Manorville, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota announced late Tuesday.

Bryan Rosales Mejia, 21, and Orlen Soliz-Galvez, 18, have both been charged with second-degree murder in the death of German Guzman of Amityville, whose body was discovered on fire on the side of Wading River-Manor Road on Oct. 15.

Both Mr. Roseales Mejia and Mr. Soliz-Galvez were held in Suffolk County jail without bail pending their arraignment on Thursday in county court.

Mr. Rosales Mejia was arrested last Sunday, while Mr. Soliz-Galvez was caught two days later on Oct. 20.

At a previous court appearance, a Suffolk County assistant district attorney claimed the two “brutally punched, kicked and stabbed the victim with a knife and screwdriver” until he died. They then allegedly dumped his body in the Otis Pike Preserve in Manorville, covered it with brush and set it on fire.

psquire@timesreview.com

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Riverhead Town Police are offering up to $5,000 for information about a man who passed counterfeit money at a gas station and restaurants around Riverhead Town, according to a news release.

Police said the unidentified man used counterfeit currency at four different locations on Oct. 1. The suspect bought cheap itemsat a Calverton gas station and restaurants in Wading River and Riverhead paid using counterfeit $100 bills. He received change for his fake money.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the man’s arrest. Police have asked anyone with information about the fake money to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.

All calls will be kept confidential.

Photo credit: Suffolk County Crime Stoppers

A 39-year-old man is facing a felony charge for driving under the influence of drugs in Flanders Wednesday morning, Southampton Town police said.

According to police, John Jensen of Hampton Bays was stopped on Flanders Road for “multiple traffic violations” about 9 a.m. Cops determined Mr. Jensen was driving under the influence of a depressant drug and arrested him at the scene.

He was arrested at the scene and charged with felony DUI, misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Mr. Jensen was also found to be in possession of marijuana and Suboxone “not in its original container and without a prescription,” police said.

A Suffolk County prosecutor said the two men accused of killing a man and dumping his body in Manorville lured the victim to his death and took photos of him on their cellphones as he lay “on the floor dying.”

Bryan Rosales-Mejia, 21, and Orlen Soliz-Galvez, 18, both of Amityville were arraigned on second-degree murder charges in Suffolk County court Thursday. Justice John Collins set bail at $10 million for both men.

The two are accused of murdering a mutual friend, 36-year-old German Guzman, who also lived in Amityville.

Though Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Creighton said the two confessed to the murder on video, both defendants pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Mr. Soliz-Galvez and Mr. Rosales-Mejia — who is currently on probation, prosecutors said — both face 25 years to life in prison.

At their court appearance Thursday, Ms. Creighton said Mr. Soliz-Galvez and Mr. Rosales-Mejia exchanged text messages planning to kill Mr. Guzman before the alleged killing. 

She said the two called and texted Mr. Guzman to lure him to a “cottage” behind Mr. Rosales-Mejia’s Amityville residence.

Once inside the cottage, the two allegedly jumped the victim and punched, kicked and stabbed him to death with a knife and a screwdriver.

Ms. Creighton told the judge the defendants used their cell phones to take pictures and videos of the victim “as he lay on the floor dying.”

“They took pictures of what they were doing,” she said. “They also took video of punching and stomping [the victim].”

She also said the prosecution was able to recover the apparent photos and videos of the murder from their cell phones. Investigators also found pictures of the two wearing clothing that appeared to be covered in blood, she said.

Ms. Creighton declined to comment about a potential motive in the case.

Prosecutors said Mr. Soliz-Galvez and Mr. Rosales-Mejia then put Mr. Guzman’s body into his own car and drove the car to a nearby store’s parking lot, where they left it overnight. The next day, the two drove to the Otis Pike Preserve in Manorville, covered Mr. Guzman’s body in brush and lit it on fire, Ms. Creighton said. 

Two days later, police pulled over Mr. Rosales-Mejia driving Mr. Guzman’s car and arrested him. They were then able to connect Mr. Soliz-Galvez to the case, Ms. Creighton said.

Daniel Russo, an attorney who was assigned to Mr. Soliz-Galvez, said after the arraignment he “did not hear any evidence connecting him to this murder.”

Joseph Hanshe, an attorney who was assigned to Mr. Rosales-Mejia, said the two defendants were friends but did not have any relationship with Mr. Guzman.

The two suspects will next appear in court on Dec. 23.

clisinki@timesreview.com

Riverhead Town police arrested a Mattituck woman in connection with two thefts after receiving multiple reports of items stolen at local vineyards, farm stands and parking lots over the past several weeks, according to a press release. 

Cheryl Gormez, 50, was arrested after police found her in possession of stolen credit cards which she tried to use on Oct. 13 at the Citgo gas station in Riverhead, police said. Ms. Gormez was also in possession of a stolen gold ring, which she sold Oct. 26 at Riverhead Gold & Diamonds on East Main Street, police said.

Ms. Gormez faces two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, two counts of third-degree identity theft and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, police said.

Police said most of the reports received on thefts involved someone entering unlocked vehicles and stealing pocketbooks and other valuables, police said.

Ms. Gormez was previously arrested in 2013 for allegedly stealing cash and tomatoes from a Greenport farm stand, according to prior reports.

Riverhead police issued a reminder for people to lock their car doors and do not leave valuables inside.

Credit: Cheryl Gormez (Credit: Riverhead police)

A fourth suspect has been identified as the shooter that allegedly killed 21-year-old Demitri Hampton during a home invasion in 2013.

Messiah Booker, 27, who is currently incarcerated upstate on weapons charges, fired the fatal shot that killed Mr. Hampton at a home in Flanders on Jan. 27, 2013, assistant district attorney Glenn Kurtzrock said during a Friday morning arraignment on a grand jury indictment for three other suspects — Michael Parrish, 26, of Coram; Corry Wallace, 40, of Riverhead and Danielle Hall, 39, of Calverton.

Those three suspects have been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree burglary and are being held without bail.

The three male suspects all had a weapon and entered the home during the invasion and Ms. Hall drove the getaway car, Mr. Kurtzrock said.

Wearing pink cheetah print leggings in State Supreme Court before Justice Richard Ambro, the pregnant Ms. Hall told her attorney, Daniel Russo: “I was never there. How did that happen?”

See also: Demitri Hampton was best type of person: Column

After entering a not guilty plea, Mr. Russo said Ms. Hall wasn’t involved with the murder and was connected to the case “solely because she is family of the co-defendants.”

Due to her failure to appear in court on four different occasions on a prior criminal contempt case and numerous misdemeanor charges, the judge granted the district attorney’s request that she be held without bail.

Mr. Wallace and Mr. Parrish have also been charged with failing to appear in court for prior charges, Mr. Kurtzrock said.

Mr. Wallace was previously arrested on robbery charges, Mr. Kurtzrock said, adding Mr. Wallace was released from jail and was on parole five days before Mr. Hampton was killed.

Mr. Wallace’s attorney, Richard Stafford, entered a plea of not guilty on his client’s behalf and asked for a jury trial.

Mr. Parrish was arrested on a felony assault charge in 2008 and has had a warrant out for his arrest in New York City since 2012, Mr. Kurtzrock said.

Mr. Parrish’s attorney, Vincent Bianco, asked that some bail be set since Mr. Parrish was a lifelong Coram resident, had completed necessary community service for a prior arrest and successfully completed a prior probation sentence.

Dozens of people attended Friday’s arraignment to support Mr. Hampton and his family. His mother, Juanita Trent, said that she’s thankful for the community support.

“This affects the whole community and I’m grateful to be a part of Riverhead,” she said.

She added that she has not lost her faith and “justice has to be served for my son.”

“I thank God for where we are now,” she added.

Ms. Hall and Mr. Wallace are due back in court Dec. 3 and Mr. Parrish Dec. 4.

Photo Caption: Messiah Booker mugshot

nsmith@timesreview.com

About $2,100 worth of clothing was reported stolen from the Tommy Hilfiger store at Tanger Outlets on Oct. 22 around 3 p.m., police said.

• A dark-colored 2006 Volvo was reported stolen from the driveway of a home on River Road in Calverton on Oct. 21 between 6 and 8 a.m., police said.

• A Wading River man reported being schemed out of $1,500 last Thursday afternoon, according to police. Additional information was unavailable.

• About $300 was reported stolen from a backpack stored in an unlocked locker at Maximus Health and Fitness on East Main Street in River-head Oct. 20, police said.

• A man passed a counterfeit $100 bill at Blue Duck Bakery on East Main Street in Riverhead on Monday afternoon and then fled in a grey Volvo with New Jersey plates, police said.

• Chaki Ligon, 31, of Riverhead was charged with petit larceny at 9:49 p.m. Monday at the Kmart store on Route 58 in Riverhead. She was processed by police and released on $50 bail, officials said. Additional information was unavailable.

• A Wading River resident told police an unknown person entered their Fire Lane home Sunday morning and removed an unspecified amount of copper. Police said their detective division is handling the case.

• A wallet was reported stolen from a car parked at Ty Llwyd Farm on Sound Avenue in Northville Friday afternoon. Police did not indicate how much money was in the wallet.

Riverhead police are searching for a male suspect who fled on foot following a robbery Sunday afternoon at Damaris Multi-Service on East Main Street. 

Police said the man entered the location and demanded cash while displaying a black handgun to employees shortly before 2 p.m. He then removed an undetermined amount of cash from the register and fled on foot, police said.

A police canine conducted a track based on evidence recovered at the scene, revealing that the suspect ran in an eastbound direction along the Long Island Rail Road tracks to a rear entrance of the nearby River Pointe Apartments. As of 4:30 p.m. Sunday no arrest had been made.

The store, which is located just a few hundred yards from Riverhead Town Police headquarters, was blocked off as police interviewed staffers for about an hour.

The investigation is ongoing at this time and anyone with information is asked to contact the Riverhead police tipline at 631-727-4500 ext. 633.

Top photo: Riverhead Town Police are currently searching for a man who allegedly robbed Damaris Multi-Service on East Main Street on Sunday afternoon. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

A Flanders man who called for assistance from the state police was arrested early Friday after troopers discovered he had been driving drunk, according to a news release.

Police said Byron Velasquez-Rodrigue, 37, drove to the state police barracks for help about 12 a.m. But during an interview, a state trooper noticed the smell of alcohol on Mr.Velasquez-Rodrigue’s breath. The man admitted to driving to the barracks and drinking alcohol, police said.

He failed sobriety tests and was arrested for DWI, police said. He was held in county jail before being arraigned in Southampton Town Court.

The former Southold High School math teacher arrested following a fatal crash in Jamesport this past January pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated charge in connection with the crash.

With her change in plea, Diane O’Neill, 66, of Farmingville will avoid jail time. She was ordered to pay about $1,200 in fines.
The crash claimed the life of George Kurovics, a 90-year-old barber who was believed to have gotten out of the truck he was driving after spotting the family’s cat walking along Main Road in Jamesport. Ms. O’Neill had been westbound in her 2007 Mercedes-Benz on Main Road near Herricks Lane shortly after 7:15 p.m. when the crash occurred, according to a police report.

Appearing before Judge Allen Smith in Riverhead Town Justice Court Monday, Ms. O’Neill admitted to drinking two glasses of white wine before getting behind the wheel to drive home. In a statement, she said she wished to express her “deepest sympathy to the Kurovics family.”

“I lost my mom, my dad and my husband of 40 years so I know how to grieve loss,” she said.

Police investigate the scene of the fatal accident Jan. 13. (Credit: AJ Ryan/Stringer News)

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Cronin said there was not enough evidence to consider an upgraded charge against Ms. O’Neill. He added that Ms. O’Neill’s blood alcohol level of .08 percent and the fact that she immediately stopped and notified police made the prosecution comfortable accepting the guilty plea Monday.

Speaking both inside and outside the courtroom, Mr. Kurovics’ family expressed disappointment with the disposition of the case.

“Diane O’Neill, your personal connection to George doesn’t compare to that of the people who love and miss him,” Mr. Kurovics’ wife Joyce, read aloud in the courtroom. “You took his life and the punishment doesn’t equal the pain and suffering we endure. We lost someone irreplacable, a valued life and you still have yours.”

His son, George Jr., later told a reporter he wishes there were “more justice.”

George Kurovics at work in his Rocky Point barbershop. (Credit: Courtesy photo)

Mr. Kurovics’ daughter, Linda Shropshire, said not a day goes by she doesn’t think of her father, who at the time of his death was still working five days a week at George’s Rocky Point Barbershop on Broadway in Rocky Point.

“He was a great guy,” she said. “I loved him and he touched so many lives.”

Ms. Kurovics said she hopes other drivers learn from what happened to her husband so that “something good comes out of it.”

Ms. O’Neill, who had entered a not guilty plea in January, retired from her job in the Southold School District soon after her arrest. She had taught there for more than 20 years.

Top Caption: Diane O’Neill enters court in Riverhead January 14. (Credit: Paul Squire)

nsmith@timesreview.com

Just over 24 hours after he allegedly robbed an East Main Street shop, police arrested a homeless man in connection to the incident.

According to police, 24-year-old Ishmael Norris held up Demaris Multi-Service around 2 p.m. on Sunday, displaying a gun and demanding cash before fleeing the scene on foot.

Police investigated the scene on Sunday afternoon, though an immediate search of the area was unsuccessful.

Authorities said that Mr. Norris was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on Monday. He was charged with first-degree robbery, a felony. He is expected to be arraigned this morning in Riverhead Justice Court.

An investigation of the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Riverhead Police Tip Hotline at 727-4500, ext. 633.

Photo Caption: Riverhead Town Police on scene at Damaris Multi-Service on East Main Street on Sunday afternoon. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

A mid-day robbery in Aquebogue Monday left a 28-year-old man with numerous cuts and police are searching for the suspect, Riverhead Town police said.

The victim was robbed at knifepoint on Zion Street at around 1:25 p.m. and had his wallet and cash stolen, police said. The victim was treated at the scene by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

The suspect reportedly fled on foot. A search with the New York State Police K-9 yielded no results. The suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s with a thin build. Anyone with information is asked to call the Riverhead Police Department at 727-4500.

(Credit: Google Maps)

A physician assistant at East End Urgent and Primary Care in Riverhead was arrested by federal authorities Wednesday morning for illegally distributing thousands of prescription narcotic drug pills, according to a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to federal prosecutors, 37-year-old Michael Troyan of Riverhead allegedly wrote prescriptions for “thousands of oxycodone pills to co-conspirators for the purpose of illegally re-selling the pills for cash” between Nov. 2011 and Oct. 2015.

Mr. Troyan was captured writing fake prescriptions and receiving large amounts of cash on undercover video surveillance, according to District Attorney Robert Capers. Mr. Troyan allegedly received “large quantities of cash at his Riverhead medical office for prior illegal sales,” keeping half of the profit for himself.

“Troyan abused his authority to prescribe controlled substances and his position of trust as a physician assistant to illegally sell oxycodone in exchange for cash,” Mr. Capers said in a statement. “Such abuse by health care professionals will not be tolerated.”

Officers with the DEA’s Long Island Tactical Diversion Squad raided East End Urgent and Primary Care Wednesday morning. They were assisted by the Department of Health & Human Services, Southampton Town Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force.

A phone recording at East End Urgent & Primary Care said the office was closed Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. Troyan is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Central Islip before United States Magistrate Judge Gary R. Brown. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine, the Attorney’s Office said.

According to a bio on his company’s website, Mr. Troyan is a registered radiologic technologist and has been employed in “various, multidisciplinary medical settings since 2002.” He is also a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, New York State Society of Physician Assistants and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and received his Bachelor of Science from Touro College in Bayshore.

In 2013 he opened North Fork Bacon & Smokehouse in Wading River with his friend Patrick Gaeta. On Wednesday, Mr. Gaeta said Mr. Troyan and he split ways earlier this year.

nsmith@timesreview.com

A 39-year-old man is facing a felony charge for driving under the influence of drugs in Flanders Wednesday morning, Southampton Town police said.

According to police, John Jensen of Hampton Bays was stopped on Flanders Road for “multiple traffic violations” about 9 a.m. Cops determined Mr. Jensen was driving under the influence of a depressant drug and arrested him at the scene.

He was arrested at the scene and charged with felony DUI, misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Mr. Jensen was also found to be in possession of marijuana and Suboxone “not in its original container and without a prescription,” police said.