The investigation into Riverhead physician assistant Michael Troyan began following a complaint from a surgeon that one of his patients re-opened stitches with a pencil following a tonsillectomy because the patient was so desperate for pain pills he became addicted to while being treated by Mr. Troyan, according to documents filed in federal court Wednesday. 

Prosecutors said the investigation uncovered that Mr. Troyan, who they described as the ringleader of the scheme, worked with approximately 20 others to whom he prescribed more than 60,000 oxycodone pills they resold on the streets before splitting cash profits with him.

It is estimated the prescription-pill ring netted more than $1.8 million over a period of four years, assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Bode wrote in a letter to Magistrate Judge Gary Brown of the Eastern District of New York.

The investigation included undercover audio and video recordings taken during the past two months that show Mr. Troyan discussing the illegal sale of oxycodone pills with a co-conspirator, prosecutors said. Those recordings were allegedly taken at East End Urgent and Primary Care on East Main Street in Riverhead.

The agents also said they seized text messages sent by Mr. Troyan, 37, to his co-conspirators discussing payment for the illegal prescriptions, and early last month he sought an assault rifle as payment.

 Prosecutors say Mr. Troyan (pictured at left) is the “de facto owner” of both East End Urgent and Primary Care offices – the other is in Wading River — and he “employed doctors at the clinics so he would have the authority to legally prescribe controlled substances as a physician assistant.”  The investigation also revealed that Mr. Troyan is believed to have abused “pharmaceutical controlled substances” himself, prosecutors said.

“Troyan presents an unacceptable danger to the community,” Mr. Bode wrote, arguing that Mr. Troyan should be held without bail. “That he was willing to use his medical license and prescription authority for years to brazenly push a dangerous drug such as oxycodone for cash shows the risk he poses.”

Mr. Bode argued that “the government’s case here is extremely strong.”

Mr. Troyan’s attorney, Richard Haley of Islandia, declined to comment on the case.

“Just as a matter of the way I practice, I prefer to try my cases in the courtroom,” he said.

Mr. Troyan was arraigned Wednesday on one count of conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone, one count of attempted distribution of a controlled substance and a third count of distribution of a controlled substance, according to the indictment. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine, however prosecutors are currently negotiating a plea deal with Mr. Troyan, according to documents filed Wednesday.

Mr. Troyan is a registered radiologic technologist and, according to a bio on his company’s website, 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 Bay Shore.

Caption: The East End Urgent and Primary Care building on East Main Street in Riverhead. 

gparpan@timesreview.com

Riverhead physician assistant Michael Troyan is expected to be released on bond today after his father, Peter, agreed to put up his Riverhead home worth $1 million as equity. 

Mr. Troyan, who prosecutors described as the ringleader of a scheme to illegally distribute thousands of prescription narcotic drug pills, returned to federal court in Central Islip Friday morning before federal Magistrate Gary Brown.

“Your father putting up his house is a significant act,” Mr. Brown told Mr. Troyan in court.

Mr. Troyan’s wife, Marissa, also agreed to put up their house as well.

Mr. Troyan, 37, surrendered his passport, a pistol permit with the county and his father surrendered six of his son’s guns at the time of the arrest: two handguns, two shotguns and two rifles.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Bode described Mr. Troyan as “acting like a drug dealer.”

“This isn’t a case of a health professional looking the other way,” he said.

Mr. Bode said Mr. Troyan downplayed his role at East End Urgent and Primary Care in Riverhead during his initial court appearance on Wednesday. He described Mr. Troyan as “the boss” and said he had an agreement with a doctor to split profits 50/50. The doctor has not been identified.

Mr. Troyan’s new attorney, Mark Musachio of Deer Park, at first said his client was the office manager. He then asked to speak to his client and said “there is a written agreement that they’ll share profits on the business. It is not a partnership.”

Mr. Brown said “it is troubling” that Mr. Troyan misrepresented himself earlier in court.

Although Mr. Brown ordered Mr. Troyan to surrender his DEA registration, he encouraged Mr. Troyan to return to work under the conditions that he not prescribe any medication even through a third party.

The judge also told Mr. Troyan not to leave Long Island or the New York City area and explained how he’s also subject to random home and employment visits. Mr. Brown added Mr. Troyan must “undergo random drug testing, evaluation and/or treatment for substance abuse,” according to court documents.

Mr. Bode said he’s in talks with Mr. Troyan’s attorney on a plea deal. The next court date is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 11 a.m.

Mr. Troyan’s attorney brought a stack of letters to court written by patients expressing support for him.

In court documents filed in federal court Wednesday, Mr. Bode wrote a letter to the judge saying it was estimated the prescription-pill ring netted more than $1.8 million over a period of four years. The agents said they seized text messages sent by Mr. Troyan to his co-conspirators, numbering as high as 20, discussing payment for the illegal prescriptions, and early last month he sought an assault rifle as payment.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Vandals did $3,500 worth of damage to equipment in two restrooms at Riverhead High School last Thursday morning, Riverhead police said.

• A Calverton woman reported Oct. 28 that her credit card was fraudulently used to make $741 worth of purchases in Yonkers, police said.

• Two chainsaws valued at $698 were reported stolen from Home Depot on Route 58 Saturday afternoon, police said.

• A woman reported Monday that someone illegally removed $684 from her Bethpage Federal Credit Union debit account, police said.

• About $240 worth of damage was done to a Dodge van parked at the Cornell Cooperative Extension building in Riverhead after someone broke the driver’s front side window last Thursday, police said.

• Three cellphones and some prescription medication were reported stolen from a home on Oak Drive in Baiting Hollow last Thursday afternoon, according to police, who said a credit card also was reported stolen from the home. The thief attempted to make purchases on the card, police said.

• A Dell laptop computer was reported stolen from a car parked at Martha Clara Vineyards in Northville last Thursday afternoon, police said.

Southampton Police arrested a Riverhead man on a felony DWI charge early this morning after they said he was caught driving without an interlock device.

According to police, 28-year-old David Morales was seen driving northbound on Flanders Road around 12:15 a.m. He was stopped for an unsafe start and failing to maintain his lane of travel, and a further investigation allegedly revealed he was intoxicated.

Mr. Morales was charged with felony DWI, felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, circumventing an interlock device, which is a misdemeanor, and cited for unsafe start and moving from his lane unsafely, which are both violations.

An unlicensed driver from Flanders and a Mattituck woman were arrested on drug charges Oct. 31 in Riverside. 

Jamal Langhorne, 29, was stopped for failing to signal when making a left turn on Cross River Drive at around 10:05 p.m. in Riverside, police said. He had an active arrest warrant with Southampton Town police, according to a police report. While searching the car police allegedly found crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana.

The passenger, 23-year-old Christina Ragone, allegedly admitted to having marijuana in her purse, which she then handed over to police. She also said she knew Mr. Langhorne didn’t have a driver’s license even though he was driving the car, officials said.

Ms. Ragone was charged with third-degree facilitating aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a traffic infraction, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, police said.

Mr. Langhorne was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug, a felony, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, unlawful possession of marijuana and two counts of not having a license, all violations, police said.

Mr. Langhorne was arrested on criminal possession of a controlled substance in October 2014 and July 2011, according to prior reports.

• Police arrested a Riverhead man for drinking and driving on Oct. 26 in Flanders.

Marlon Perez-Balcarcel, 23, was involved in a car accident on Flanders Road when his car left the road and struck a utility pole at around 4:15 a.m., police said. He allegedly smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and had bloodshot, glassy eyes, police said. He failed a pre-screen breath test and was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center to be treated for his injuries, police said.

Mr. Perez-Balcarcel was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, moving from a lane unsafely and driving without a license, both violations, officials said.

• A Hampton Bays man was arrested for DWI Oct. 28 in Flanders.

Antonio Lucas, 46, allegedly crashed his car into a tree on Flanders Road at around 12:25 a.m. When a police officer arrived he found Mr. Lucas to be under the influence of drugs, officials said.

He was charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, police said.

• Police arrested a Flanders man for driving while intoxicated Nov. 1 in Hampton Bays.

Antonio Ortega Ramos, 37, was stopped for failing to stay in his lane and speeding on Flanders Road at around 6 a.m., police said. When stopped, officers performed standard field sobriety tests, which Mr. Ortega Ramos performed poorly on, officials said.

He was charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, and two traffic violations, police said.

• Someone had approximately $6 worth of change stolen from an unlocked car parked in his Oak Avenue driveway in Flanders on Oct. 29, police said.

• A woman had the driver’s side window of her car broken into Oct. 30 while it was parked at her Brookhaven Avenue home, police said. A purse and money were removed, officials said.

• A Flanders man looked out his window Oct. 31 and saw a man in a red sweatshirt remove a five-gallon gas can from the bed of his pickup truck parked in his Evergreen Road driveway, police said. The victim then chased the approximately 5-foot-10 man in his 20s down the street on foot, but the suspect fled east on Riverside Avenue and escaped, police said. No arrest has been made.

• A woman reported that someone punctured the tires of a car parked in her Oak Avenue driveway in Flanders Nov. 1.

• Police said $455 was reported stolen from a car parked in a Maple Avenue driveway in Flanders after someone broke the passenger side window Nov. 1.

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.

According to a state police release, three men were arrested for driving drunk in the Riverhead area over the past week.

All three were ultimately released from custody with a future court date.

In the first incident, State troopers said 50-year-old Wade Turpin of Ridge was pulled over for speeding on Route 25 east of Route 25A in Riverhead last Monday. Police discovered he was intoxicated and arrested him for misdemeanor DWI at the scene, according to a news release.

On Tuesday, a Mastic Beach man was also arrested, state police said.

Zaza Gurgenidze, 22, was pulled over on Riverleigh Ave in Riverside for driving with illegally tinted windows. Troopers determined he was driving drunk and charged him with misdemeanor DWI, police said.

The last reported DWI arrest came on Saturday, when a Glendale man was arrested after a crash at the Riverside traffic circle.

Police said the vehicle of 66-year-old Thomas Coyne collided with another car. Troopers investigated the accident and found Mr. Coyne was driving drunk.

He was charged with DWI and released from custody, police said.

Since late September, parked cars in Flanders and Riverside have been broken into on a weekly basis, according to Southampton Town police reports.

And, according to Lieutenant Susan Ralph, the dozens of reported break-in incidents are all connected.

“We’re telling people to remove all belongings out of the vehicle,” Lt. Ralph said. “Any loose change, iPads, iPhones, pocketbooks — do not leave those items in your vehicles.”

A total of 42 cars have been reportedly “rifled through” along Flanders Road and nearby streets, Lt. Ralph said. 

In some instances, bricks or large stones were thrown through the vehicles’ windows, according to police reports. One victim also had their tires punctured, police said.

In many of the incidents, thieves took items — like cash, purses, credit cards and drivers licenses — from the vehicles. But sometimes the cars were broken into but nothing was removed, police said.

The most recent larcenies occurred sometime between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday, when three cars parked in driveways on Flanders Road were broken into, Southampton Town Police said. Allegedly, all three vehicles had items removed from them and one car was damaged, according to police reports.

Lt. Ralph said the break-ins are occurring mostly in the Flanders area, but they’ve now been filtering into Hampton Bays.

She said the break-ins were sporadic; they stopped for a bit, but then started up again.

“If you see someone rummaged through your car [but nothing was taken] still call,” she said. “What’s going on is hopefully we’ll catch a break.”

The break-ins have occurred on Flanders Road, Priscilla Avenue, Suffolk Avenue, Oak Avenue, Gilder Avenue, Brookhaven Avenue, Evergreen Road, Ludlam Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Point Road, among other streets.

The Southampton Town police detective division is currently investigating the incidents.

“Don’t even leave bags in your vehicles because they’ll break the window if the door is locked to see what’s in the bag,” Lt. Ralph said. “Everything should be removed from all vehicles.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Editors’ Note: This story was updated at 4:50 p.m. to reflect more reported break-ins than initially indicated by police blotter records.

A Riverhead man was arrested after Southampton Town Police received a call about a suspicious person in a residence in Northampton on Sunday. 

Denzel Faines, 24, was arrested at around 9:30 a.m. after police learned he entered a Birch Court home without permission, police said. He was charged with second-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, officials said.

Mr. Faines has a history of arrests in the area, dating back to a 2009 drug arrest after a car he was in was found to have 58 tablets of ecstasy, 13 grams of crack cocaine, 41 grams of marijuana, and two ounces of liquid codeine, according to an prior News-Review article.

Most recently, he was arrested in June of this year on a criminal possession of a controlled substance charge after he was seen stumbling into traffic on Old Quogue Road under the influence of PCP, according to a prior News-Review article.

Mr. Faines was processed and released on an appearance ticket, police said.

UPDATE (11:30 p.m.): The driver killed in a Sunday night crash on Flanders Road has been identified as 33-year-old Julio Tocay of Peconic.

Original Story: Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who was killed in a single-car crash on Flanders Road last night.

According to Southampton Police, the man was driving a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup with an Illinois registration when he hit a tree off the roadway around 7:50 p.m. The incident occurred west of Red Creek Road.

Police, Hampton Bays Fire Department, Hampton Bays Ambulance and Flanders Fire Department all responded to the crash, which remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Southampton Police Detective Division at 702-2230.

While a string of several dozen vehicle break-ins have been reported in the Flanders and Riverside area over the past several months, three armed men allegedly went one step further last night and broke into an occupied home on Flanders Road, and tried breaking into another home.

According to Southampton Police, the suspects — who remain at large — entered the home “brandishing a box cutter, a silver handgun and a shotgun.”

All men were black, according to police. One of the suspects was described as about 6-foot-3, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. The other two were “shorter in stature wearing black hoodies,” police said.

The men took over $1,000.

Police received a call about the break-in at 1:10 a.m. and received a second call at 1:12 a.m. stating that three men fitting a similar description tried breaking into an Albany Avenue home, but failed.

An extensive search of the area, with the aid of a Riverhead K-9 unit, was conducted.

According to Lt. Susan Ralph, detectives are still investigating the crimes. While last night’s break-ins came in the wake of a months-long string of car robberies, police are saying that there is no indication that the incidents are related, as no evidence is currently available connecting the crimes.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call Southampton Police at 728-5000, the detective division at 702-2233, or the crime tips hotline at 728-3454. Tips can also be left at crimetips@southamptontownny.gov. All emails will be kept confidential, according to police.

The incident came one day after police arrested a Riverhead man for trespassing in Northampton.

Denzel Faines, 24, was arrested at around 9:30 a.m. Monday after he allegedly got into a Birch Court home without permission, police said. He was charged with misdemeanor second-degree criminal trespass and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, officials said.

He was released from custody with a ticket for a future court date, police said.

Over the past three months, over 40 cars have also been “rifled through” in the area, according to Lt. Ralph. Residents have been warned to keep anything of value out of their cars.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:40 p.m. with additional information from police.

A 16-year-old in Flanders chased a Greenport man out of a Glider Avenue home to thwart a burglary attempt and helped police track down the man leading to his arrest, Southampton Town police said.

Police charged Wade Hackett, 43, with two counts of second-degree burglary after the Nov. 5 incident, police said.

Mr. Hackett allegedly entered the home and was confronted when the boy returned home amid the break-in at around 6:05 p.m., police said. The teen chased Mr. Hackett out of the home and through a wooded area that adjoined the property. Mr. Hackett refused to drop the electronics and jewelry he had allegedly taken, police said.

The “brave young man,” according to a police press release, followed Mr. Hackett to his vehicle parked on the road and took down a description that he later relayed to police. An officer spotted the vehicle about eight miles away and pulled over Mr. Hackett.

He was identified by the victim and arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. Police determined that Mr. Hackett entered both the main residence and an apartment and stole items from both locations, police said.

Second-degree burglary is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The arrest comes amid a string of crimes committed in the Flanders area, including a total of 42 cars that have been reportedly “rifled through” along Flanders Road. Three armed men broke into a home on Flanders Road Monday night. Police also arrested a 24-year-old man Sunday after he allegedly entered a Birch Court home in Northampton without permission.

joew@timesreview.com

An Aquebogue man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to felony charges in a double-fatal car crash in Nassau County is suing the county and its controversial inmate healthcare provider, alleging he was given inadequate care for his cancer diagnosis while being held for trial.

Robert Beodeker, 53, claims his Constitutional rights were violated when employees with the county and Miami-based Armor Correctional Health Services mismanaged his health and medical needs, according to a federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court last Tuesday.

In the suit, Mr. Beodeker alleges he “was subjected to significant and unjustifiable risk to his life and health” when physicians who treated him before he was convicted made scheduling errors with his appointments, canceled tests without notice and delayed necessary biopsies intended to test the status of his cancer.

“Not once during the entire 29 months that [I] was incarcerated at the Nassau County facility did [I] have an appointment to discuss [my] prostate cancer and [my] medical needs with any of the supervising physicians,” the lawsuit states.

Mr. Beodeker is seeking $215,000 in compensation to cover his previous attorney fees and damages. He is representing himself and could not be immediately reached for comment at Franklin Correctional Facility, where he is currently serving a prison sentence.

Mr. Beodeker — who was a longtime and well-known member of the local theater scene — was driving his pickup around 12:40 p.m. on March 4, 2013, on the Meadowbrook Parkway when he crashed into a broken-down Nissan Maxima and two people who were tending to the car.

The two men, John Elder, 76, of Freeport and Edward Ross, 65, of North Bellmore died at the scene.

Mr. Beodeker was arrested and charged with negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter. He ultimately pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal earlier this year and was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison.

According to the federal lawsuit he filed, Mr. Beodeker was diagnosed with HIV and prostate cancer in early 2012. He was discussing treatment options around the time of the crash and his arrest, the suit claims.

While waiting for trial in jail, Mr. Beodeker was under the care of Armor Correctional Health Services, a contractor with Nassau County that cares for inmates in the corrections system.

The lawsuit states Armor Correctional Health Services took a “direct and clear” approach to treating his HIV, but showed little interest in creating a care plan for his cancer.

The suit claims that “no member of the Armor medical staff made any attempt to discuss how the ongoing monitoring and treatment of his prostate cancer would be managed during [Mr. Beodeker’s] incarceration.”

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of litigation that have accused Armor Correctional Health Services of providing substandard care to inmates. The suit also comes as the company is coming under scrutiny from critics and New York state investigators, according to a Newsday report.

In September, a New York state commission determined Armor gave “incompetent and deficient” medical care to John Gleeson, a Nassau County jail inmate who died in custody in 2014. The findings led critics to call for Nassau County to suspend its contract with Armor, Newsday reported.

The issues in New York are the latest to hound Armor, which has been the defendant in numerous lawsuits elsewhere in the country.

In 2013, the company paid $800,000 in an out-of-court settlement with the family of a Florida inmate who died after he spent about 36 hours in jail without treatment while suffering a stroke, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The sheriff’s office later ended its deal with Armor after the office paid $200,000 million in a settlement with the family.

Just last month, officials in Niagara County ended their contract with Armor and sued the company, demanding reimbursement for legal fees spent in a 2012 wrongful death case, according to The Buffalo News.

In that incident, an inmate wasn’t given proper medication and died of heart failure and emphysema, according to a state Commission of Corrections report. Armor paid the inmate’s daughter $100,000 to settle the case, the Buffalo News reported.

On its website, Armor states it has been “highly successful at preventing and combating litigation resulting in a low number of active cases with the vast majority of claims dismissed.” The company claims more than 99 percent of malpractice lawsuits are resolved before going to trial.

“We have never had a judgment against us,” the company wrote. “Our record reflects our dedication to high standards of patient care and client service.”

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Armor declined to comment on the lawsuit by Mr. Beodeker, saying “On matters of pending litigation, the company cannot comment specifically on any inmate’s case because of federal HIPAA regulations.”

Nassau County Attorney Carnell Foskey said the county “does not comment on pending litigation.”

Mr. Beodeker stated in the lawsuit that he was forced to set up numerous appointments with physician assistants to have testing done, and that he constantly to remind his healthcare providers of his condition.

On at least one occasion, Mr. Beodeker prepared for a morning procedure — including fasting for a day and undergoing an enema — only to learn at 7:30 p.m. that the test had been canceled, according to the lawsuit.

Appointments were also canceled when doctors didn’t coordinate dates with jail holidays and Mr. Beodeker’s court appearances. Mr. Beodeker said he filed 11 grievances with Nassau County during his stay in jail, but received delayed or no responses.

“The defendants must be held accountable to the callous indifference that these defendants continue to show by placing the health and lives of detainees, like the Plaintiff, at risk,” the lawsuit states.

psquire@timesreview.com

A 26-year-old man was airlifted after his vehicle flipped over near the end of the Long Island Expressway Wednesday night, according to a Riverhead Town police press release.

John Parry of Patchogue was driving a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer at around 8:10 p.m. when his vehicle collided with the shoulder of the roadway and overturned “several times before coming to rest in the median between the eastbound exit ramp of Exit 72 and Exit 73,” police said.

A medevac helicopter was called to take the victim to Stony Brook Medical Center, officials said.

His injuries were later determined to be non-life threatening, police said.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

David Fox joined the Flanders Fire Department in 1965, at age 24, for a simple reason: his brothers were members of the department.

Fifty years and hundreds of alarms later, they’re gone now, he said Tuesday. But Mr. Fox remains, no longer driven by family ties, but by a desire to give back to his hometown.

“You still do it for the community,” Mr. Fox said. “To help out.”

That commitment has made Mr. Fox, an ex-chief and former Firefighter of the Year, one of the top responding volunteers in the entire department, even as he enters his 51st year of service. On the 50th anniversary of his joining the department, Mr. Fox was at it again, working in the radio room Monday to coordinate dispatches to a car fire.

“He’s a special guy here,” said Flanders Fire Chief Joseph Petit.

On Tuesday night, Mr. Fox — a former Sears employee, school bus driver and custodian for the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District — was honored as a 50-year department veteran, an honor he shares with only fellow ex-chief Michael DeNicolo.

“He’s one of our tops guys,” said assistant chief John Lennon. “He’s one of our top responders. We can count on him to do anything.”

Mr. Fox joined the Flanders Fire Department’s Pioneer Co. 2 on Nov. 9, 1965, the day of the big Northeast blackout. In the decades that followed, he did a little of everything for the department. He was a front-lines firefighter and also drove the engine company’s brush truck, which years ago was a Dodge Power Wagon and not the specialized vehicle the department uses today.

He was among the first firefighters to head to the 1995 Sunrise Wildfire, which burned about 6,000 acres of the Long Island Pine Barrens and was one of the worst wildfires in Long Island history.

Mr. Fox has also served as a lieutenant, company captain, assistant chief and, in 1975, chief of the department.

Though he doesn’t rush into fires anymore, Mr. Fox is still a constant presence in the department.

In 2012, he was its top responder, helping with more calls than any other firefighting volunteer. In 2013, he won Firefighter of the Year honors for his dedication and service; he was the oldest firefighter to earn the award in the department’s history.

He now works the radio room or heads out on calls to help direct traffic as part of the department’s Fire Police team.

On Tuesday, family members, fellow firefighters and local elected officials gathered at the firehouse in Flanders to pay tribute to Mr. Fox’s remarkable career.

“Fifty years of volunteer service. Wow,” said Peter Cincotta, president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Fireman’s Association. “In 1965 [when you joined], I was a year old.”

Mr. Cincotta praised Mr. Fox as a mentor to younger firefighters in the department.

Representatives sent by local legislators Fred Thiele, Jay Schneiderman and Ken LaValle presented Mr. Fox with proclamations at the dinner and Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst came with a plaque from the Town Board.

Ms. Throne-Holst, who will leave office this January, said Tuesday’s presentation would likely be her last for a local fire department. She said she was glad it was Mr. Fox who she was able to honor.

“It’s been a pleasure getting to know you,” she said, putting an arm around Mr. Fox. “You are a man [who is] really worthy of this.”

Flanders Fire District commissioner Brian Williams had a surprise for his longtime colleague. In addition to a plaque and words of congratulations, he gave Mr. Fox an unexpected present: the framed license plate from a fire department van that Mr. Fox had crashed.

“Here’s your 30 days [notice],” Mr. Williams joked as Mr. Fox and the audience laughed.

psquire@timesreview.com

One car in a Suffolk Avenue driveway in Flanders was, on at least one afternoon last week, not like the others.

After its passenger side window was shattered last Tuesday evening, the black Subaru wagon had a black mat, almost like a child’s rubber play mat, tied tightly to its top and right side with an orange ratchet strap, in an attempt to keep out the elements.

That car’s owner, Jennifer Gonzalez, can join several dozen other nearby residents in blaming vehicle damage on a serial vandal — or vandals — who has been breaking into cars in the community in recent months.

The string of incidents has left many in the hamlet “frightened” and “nervous,” said lifelong resident Susan Tocci.

In many cases, police said, items such as cash, purses, credit cards and driver’s licenses were also taken. But sometimes, as with the Subaru, nothing was stolen.

“Everything was in its exact place, which was odd,” Ms. Gonzalez said. “Basically, they took everything out of the glove compartment and just made a mess out of the car, but everything was still there. It’s just strange.”

The window of a second car owned by her family was smashed earlier this month. Nothing was removed from that vehicle either.

Sean McLean, who lives in the Woodroad Trail area, said his car was also targeted, although he didn’t report the incident to police.

“They stole about a dollar in change from my glove compartment,” he said.

These cars are among at least 42 vehicles in Flanders that have been broken into, according to Southampton Town police. The occasional “No Trespassing” or “Beware of Dog” signs hanging from homeowners’ fences appear not to have dissuaded the suspect — or suspects.

Incidents have also occurred on Albany Avenue, Glider Avenue, Port Street, Flanders Road, Priscilla Avenue, Oak Avenue, Brookhaven Avenue, Evergreen Road, Ludlam Avenue, Maple Avenue and Point Road, police said.

Lt. Susan Ralph of the Southampton police department said the break-ins, which police believe are connected, have taken place over the last three months. In some cases, like that of Ms. Gonzalez, bricks or large stones were thrown through car windows. One car’s tires were punctured, according to a police report.

“Everyone around here is [on the lookout],” said Juan Ortiz of Glider Avenue.

“We’re telling people to remove all belongings out of the vehicle,” Lt. Ralph said. “Any loose change, iPads, iPhones, pocketbooks — do not leave those items in your vehicles.”

Police have even suggested that residents leave their cars unlocked so their windows don’t get smashed.

Southampton police Capt. Larry Schurek said it’s believed that just one or two people are responsible and said the department has increased patrols in the area. No injuries have been reported in relation to the incidents.

“We’ve put a lot of legwork into it because it’s distressing to the community,” he said.

Despite the increased police presence, Flanders residents say it’s partially up to them to stop the break-ins.

“I don’t believe police alone can solve the problem,” said Mr. McLean, who has lived in the hamlet since 2004. “I do believe they are doing what they can to help the situation, but enough is enough, and we have to take it upon ourselves to do something about it.”

To that end, Ms. Tocci has organized a neighborhood watch and is active on social media, informing neighbors about where and when cars were hit. She said five members of her family have had their vehicles vandalized. As of Tuesday, she said roughly 25 volunteers were taking turns patrolling local streets on foot and by car.

“Maybe if [the suspects] see more presence and people driving around all night long, it will help deter them,” she said.

Ironically, Mr. McLean works for Renaissance Downtowns, a for-profit company that’s partnered with Southampton Town to redevelop neighboring Riverside, a hamlet that’s among the most distressed in the county and experiences its own fair share of crime. He believes the problem is indicative of a “worsening socioeconomic aspect of the community. It’s an unfortunate thing that comes with an unchecked drug culture within a community.”

Mr. McLean isn’t the only local resident who works for Renaissance Downtowns.

Angela Huneault, who has lived on the same Flanders street for 47 years, works as a community outreach coordinator for the company. She said change has been stolen from her son’s truck twice, although he didn’t report either incident.

“You’re sleeping with one eye open,” said Ms. Huneault. “I’m grateful to my friends walking the midnight shift, but at the same time, I want them to be safe with their families — not outside walking around.”

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call Southampton Town police at 728-5000, the detective division at 702-2233, or the crime tips hotline at 728-3454. Tips can also be emailed to crimetips@southamptontownny.gov. All communications will be confidential, police said.

Editor’s note: A version of this story originally appeared in the Nov. 12 Riverhead News-Review. Police have since reported that more break-ins have occurred in recent weeks and months.

A man allegedly stabbed someone at the Greenview Inn on West Main Street this afternoon, sending him to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to police, the victim was stabbed in the right shoulder and left abdomen by a black male wearing a white t-shirt, a red vest and blue jeans. Police said he was with a “heavyset female” at the time of the incident.

No arrests had been made as of 10:30 p.m., police said.

Police received the call at 3:25 p.m. Suffolk County K-9 unit responded to the scene as well.

The victim was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center, and the injuries are not suspected to be life threatening.

Southampton Town police arrested a 24-year-old woman on weapons charges after she allegedly threatened two people with a knife in Riverside on Nov. 7. 

Lakea Staton of Riverhead entered a Riverleigh Avenue office at around 1:45 a.m. where a man whom she claimed disrespected her worked. She allegedly drew a knife on him, officials said, and another woman stepped between the two.

Ms. Staton also threatened the woman as she was removed from the office, police said. During the altercation, Ms. Staton cut the man’s right hand, requiring him to receive stitches at Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.

The man attempted to keep Ms. Staton out of the office by spraying pepper spray, police said. Ms. Staton then broke an office window in an attempt to get at the man again, but he countered with more pepper spray, police said.

Another man from a nearby office then came over and grabbed Ms. Staton, stopping her from entering the building until police arrived, officials said.

Ms. Staton was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree assault, both felonies, two counts of second-degree menacing with a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors, police said.

• Police arrested a 49-year-old man for driving while intoxicated in Flanders on Nov. 7.

Joseph Nalepa of Lindenhurst was driving on Point Road at around 4:20 a.m. with his rear taillights out, police said. An officer smelled alcohol on Mr. Nalepa’s breath and noticed that his eyes were red and glassy and his speech was slurred. He performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests and refused a breathalyzer test, police said.

Mr. Nalepa was charged with DWI and refusing a breath test, both misdemeanors, and driving without stop lamps and drinking alcohol on the highway, both traffic infractions, police said.

• A 54-year-old man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Flanders on Nov. 7.

Chad Botts of Riverhead was driving on Riverside Avenue at around 11:45 p.m. with his rear plate lamps out, police said. When he was stopped an officer noticed his breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were red and glassy and he performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests, police said.

He was charged with driving while ability impaired, a misdemeanor, and driving without a plate lamp, a violation, police said.

• A Flanders man was arrested on unlicensed operation charges in Riverside Nov. 6, police said.

Manuel Ruiz, 65, failed to signal as he made a left turn onto Pine Street, police said. Once stopped by police he was found to have a suspended driver’s license and an open container of alcohol on the front passenger seat, police said. He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, officials said.

• A man was seen asking customers for money at the Valero gas station on Peconic Avenue in Riverside at around 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 7, police said. An employee of the gas station started to yell and curse at the complainant and told him to leave the property, which he did, officials said. Officers checked the area but could not find the man, 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.

A woman was airlifted and three people were taken to the hospital following a two-car crash Saturday in Jamesport, Riverhead Town police said.

The accident occurred on Sound Avenue near Herricks Lane at around 2:15 p.m. and a portion of the road was closed during heavy rescue efforts.

Suffolk County Police Aviation transported the woman to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance transported three other people to Peconic Bay Medical Center for minor injuries, police said.

The Jamesport Fire Department responded to the scene and the Mattituck Fire Department was called for extra ambulance, fire officials said.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

A 36-year old man was arrested on a drunken driving charge Saturday after crashing his car into a mailbox and tress in Laurel, according to a Southold Town police press release.

Ilfeo Gregorio-Lopez of Mattituck was driving a 1993 Honda at around 8:10 a.m. eastbound on Peconic Bay Boulevard when he veered off the road, police said.

Following an investigation, police determined Mr. Gregorio-Lopez was intoxicated and driving without a license, officials said.

He was charged with aggravated DWI and unlicensed operation of a vehicle, police said.

Riverhead Police cracked down on members of an auto racing club that was using the western runway at the Riverhead Town-owned Enterprise Park at Calverton as a racetrack at about 11:30 Sunday morning. 

An officer patrolling the 7,000-foot runway on the western part of the property saw a number of cars racing east on the taxiway of the western runway, which is no longer used for aviation. 

Eleven of the racers stopped for the officer, who took down their names, auto registration and vehicle description, and the racers were then given a verbal warning from the officer stating that they may be arrested for trespassing if they return.

The racers told police that they were members of a club and were invited over the internet by other club members to attend the race, according to police.

About six other vehicles fled the scene before an officer could stop them them and identify them, police said.

Town officials says the runway at EPCAL has been illegally used for racing for years, despite “no trespassing” signs.

tgannon@timesreview.com