A Ridge man is being held without bail after police say he is responsible for a recent break-in at a downtown restaurant.

According to Riverhead Police, 44-year-old Wayne Conklin was arrested just before 10 a.m. today and charged with third-degree burglary, a felony.

Authorities say he broke into Jerry and the Mermaid on East Main Street on Friday Dec. 4, caused several thousand dollars worth in damage and fled on foot with “assorted alcoholic beverages.”

Police said at the time that whoever broke into the restaurant came in through a south-side window and left through the east side door.

He was arraigned this morning and remanded to Suffolk County Correctional Facility.

If a 5-foot-10-inch man with a dark complexion, stocky build, red hat, dark hooded sweatshirt and camouflage pants wins the lottery, he might have some trouble collecting.

That’s the description of a man Riverhead Town police say forcibly removed about $200 worth of New York State Lottery tickets during a robbery at the Mobil gas station on Route 58, across from Riverhead Center, Wednesday morning.

The incident took place at about 6 a.m., police said.

The clerk at the station’s convenience store said the man matching the above description entered the store and forcibly removed the lottery tickets, according to police.

He also threatened the use of a gun, although he never displayed one, police said.

The suspect fled in a dark colored mini-van that was later determined to have been stolen from the Flanders area.

Police later found the van unoccupied in Flanders.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Riverhead Police Detective Division at 631-727-4500, ext. 332.

A 32-year-old Riverhead man was arrested for possession of a loaded handgun Thursday night, Riverhead Town police said. 

New York State Parole, with the assistance of the Riverhead Town Police C.O.P.E. unit, conducted a compliance check on parolee Jesse Pace at his Melene Street home at about 9:50 p.m., police said. During the check, police recovered a loaded .38-caliber handgun.

Mr. Pace was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing governmental administration.

Southampton Town Police arrested a Riverhead man on a drug charge after he first showed a forged document during a traffic stop Dec. 7.

Eduardo Canel-Baley, 25, was pulled over on Noyack Road around 1:15 p.m. for speeding and then gave a police officer a forged document, officials said. A search was reportedly conducted and police found cocaine on Mr. Canel-Baley.

He was charged with first-degree possession of a forged instrument, a felony; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; as well as driving without a license, not wearing a seat belt and speeding, all violations.

• Police arrested an 18-year-old man in Riverside Dec. 9 on a drug charge.

Aurelio Trampe of Bay Shore was allegedly stopped for an equipment violation around 8:10 p.m. on Flanders Road. Police smelled marijuana coming from the car and Mr. Trampe reportedly had bloodshot, droopy eyes, smelled of marijuana and performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests.

He was charged with operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor, as well as unlawful possession of marijuana and having no/inadequate lights, both violations.

• Police arrested a Riverhead man for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs Dec. 8 in Riverside.

Jan DeGraff, 55, was reportedly stopped for speeding and passing a vehicle on the left on Quogue-Riverhead Road at around 4 p.m. Police determined that he was impaired by drugs and alcohol and that he had a suspended license, officials said.

He was charged with DWAI, aggravated unlicensed operation and driving while intoxicated, all misdemeanors, and numerous traffic violations.

• A 21-year-old man was arrested Dec. 7 in Riverside on a criminal mischief charge in Riverside.

Daiquan Bland of Riverside was reportedly involved in an argument at a Vail Avenue home around 10:20 a.m. During the argument, Mr. Bland allegedly damaged a black vase.

He was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

• Police arrested a 50-year-old man Dec. 7 for threatening another man in Riverside.

Jose Maysonet of Riverhead allegedly told the victim that he would kill him, while making a throat-cutting gesture with his hand, officials said.

He was charged with third-degree menacing, a misdemeanor.

Mr. Maysonet had been arrested in 2012 for his involvement in a drug ring and was charged at the time with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, according to a previous News-Review article.

• An Eastport man was arrested for driving without a license in Riverside Dec. 7.

Carlos Rodriguez-Espana, 23, allegedly used the center turn lane on Flanders Road to bypass stopped traffic at 5:55 p.m. He was pulled over and police determined that he didn’t have a valid license and that his driving privileges had been suspended for failing to pay a fine, officials said.

He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, and two violations, moving from a lane unsafely and driving without a license.

• Police arrested a 31-year-old man for driving a motorcycle without a license in Flanders Dec. 9.

Thomas Podlas was allegedly stopped for doing a wheelie on Flanders Road around 3:05 p.m. Police said they then learned that his license was suspended and his motorcycle had switched, unregistered license plates.

Mr. Podlas was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, and numerous traffic violations.

• An East Quogue man was arrested for driving without a license in Flanders on Friday.

Steven Price, 47, was reportedly stopped for multiple traffic violations on Flanders Road around 12:49 a.m. Police then learned his license was revoked and his registration was suspended due to an insurance lapse.

Mr. Price was charged with two counts of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, and numerous traffic violations.

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.

State troopers reported two arrests in the last week, one being a Riverhead woman allegedly caught with cocaine during a traffic stop and the other of an alleged drunk driver who refused to cooperate during his arrest.

The first arrest came last Tuesday, when 44-year-old Deena Colgan was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia after the car she was riding in was pulled over, police said.

Ms. Colgan was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a broken headlight while headed west on Route 58 in Riverhead, according to a news release. A state trooper investigation found Ms. Colgan was “in possession of a quantity of cocaine, smoking implements and a scale.

On Saturday, state troopers made another arrest in an unrelated traffic stop in Riverside.

Police said Rosalie Jackson, 26, of Riverhead was pulled over on Nugent Drive for driving 60 mph in a 40 mph zone with a broken taillight. Police determined she was drunk and arrested her.

According to a news release, Ms. Jackson — who was wanted on a warrant out of Riverhead Town court for a previous DWI arrest — became “extremely irate” with police and refused to get into the state trooper’s car and shouting profanities at the troopers.

Ms. Jackson was charged with DWI, obstructing governmental administration and aggravated unlicensed driving, police said. She was held in Suffolk County jail on $1,700 bail for the latest charges, according to the news release. She will be arraigned on the Riverhead Town court warrant at a later date, police said Monday.

Riverhead Town police are looking for two men who fled the scene of a fight in Polish Town Monday morning.

Someone called 911 from a deli about 10:25 a.m., and cops could hear “a commotion” in the background before the call was disconnected, according to a police news release.

Police arrived on scene and learned there had been a fight between three black men, police said.

Police didn’t say whether the fight had occurred at the deli or nearby. An employee at the store declined to comment Monday.

Two of the men ran away before the cops got to the scene of the fight, according to the press release. The third man, a 31-year-old from Riverhead, was treated at Peconic Bay Medical Center for non life-threatening injuries. The man was not arrested, police said.

Detectives have asked anyone who saw the fight or know the identities of the other two men to call the police department at (631) 727-4500.

An Aquebogue man was killed early Wednesday after an alleged drunk driver headed the wrong way on Sunrise Highway collided with his car head-on, Suffolk County police said.

According to a news release, 57-year-old Thomas D’Eletto was driving west on Sunrise Highway in Shirley when his 2010 Toyota Corolla was hit by a 2007 Audi A4 driving in the wrong direction about 5:35 a.m.

Mr. D’Eletto was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. The driver of the other car, 54-year-old Port Jefferson Station resident Christopher O’Brien was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated, police said. He was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital in East Patchogue for treatment of non life-threatening injuries and will be arraigned in court at a later date, police said.

Detectives are still investigating the crash and have asked anyone with information on the incident to call the Vehicular Crime Unit at (631) 852-6555.

Police investigators are looking for two drivers who fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a Riverhead man in Patchogue earlier this month — and they’re offering a reward for any information that leads to the two drivers’ arrests.

According to a Suffolk County police press release, 65-year-old Joseph Orlando was trying to cross Route 112 about 3 a.m. on Dec. 5 when he was struck by four vehicles. Authorities said Mr. Orlando died at the scene.

Mr. Orlando was originally identified as a Patchogue resident, but police later learned he had been staying at a shelter on West Main Street in Riverhead.

Two of the drivers stayed with Mr. Orlando after the crash, but the other two — driving a dark-colored Hyundai Elantra between year models 2011 and 2015  and a white Ford Taurus between year models 2000 and 2007 — drove off. Both vehicles may have damage to their lower front end or undercarraige, according to police investigators.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime can call the hotline anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS.

At least 10 shots were fired at a Polish Town home with a 4-year-old and four adults inside late Wednesday night, Riverhead Town police said. No injuries were reported. 

Police responded to a home on Hamilton Avenue at 11:22 p.m. in response to shots fired at the scene, police said. The homeowner reported that several rounds entered the living space of the house, police said.

Police are investigating and anyone with information is asked to call police at 631-727-4500.

A taxi driver was robbed at gun point in Riverhead on Christmas Eve and the suspect remains at large, Riverhead Town police said.

Police responded to a report of a robbery at the intersection of Old Farm Road and Arrowhead Avenue at 6:52 p.m., police said. The only description of the suspect is a white man with a thin build wearing dark clothing, police said.

The suspect stole money and a cell phone from the taxi driver and then fled on foot, police said. Police conducted a search of the area but could not locate the suspect.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect is asked to contact police at 631-727-4500.

A 38-year-old man was arrested Thursday on weapon and drug charges in Riverside, Southampton Town police said.

Milson Velasquez of Riverhead was the passenger in a vehicle traveling on Pine Street near Riverleigh Avenue when police stopped the vehicle shortly after 6:30 p.m., officials said.

During the investigation, police found Mr. Velasquez was in possession of a switchblade knife and marijuana, officials said.

He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said.

Mr. Velasquez was released and issued a court appearance ticket, officials said.

A glass door at Toys “R” Us in Riverhead was broken into Christmas Day and police are asking for the public’s help in the investigation.

Riverhead Town police responded to an alarm at the Route 58 store shortly after 4:30 p.m. and found the front door located on the west side of the building was broken into, officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Riverhead Town Police Department at 727-4500.

Southampton Town police arrested a 36-year-old man Saturday for driving with a revoked license in Riverside.

Dennis Jackson, 36, of Mastic was allegedly seen at the Valero gas station on Peconic Avenue around 1:15 p.m. with an expired inspection sticker on his car. A further check reveled that his license had been revoked, officials said.

Mr. Jackson was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, driving without a license and driving without an inspection certificate, both violations.

• A Riverhead man was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Hampton Bays Friday.

Erwin Gonzalez-Mayen, 40, was allegedly seen passing a box truck in a no-passing zone at around 1:45 p.m. headed southbound on Flanders Road. Police later learned that his license had reportedly been suspended on two separate dates for failing to answer or pay a summons out of East Hampton.

Mr. Gonzalez-Mayen was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, and violations for driving to the left of pavement markings and driving without a license.

• A security camera was knocked off the building at Flanders Heating & AC around 7:45 p.m. last Tuesday.

An employee in the building reportedly saw a man wearing blue jeans and a blue sweatshirt exit his Honda Civic hatchback while talking on a cellphone, come over to the southeast corner of the building and knock the camera off. The man then drove away when a second, unknown Honda Civic pulled into the lot, officials said. The employee said the subject didn’t see him inside the building.

• A resident of Meadow Book Lane in Flanders ordered a white Apple Lifeproof case for her iPhone 5S on Sept. 8, to be delivered to her home. Last Wednesday at around 11:30 a.m., she reported to police that it still hadn’t been delivered and she believes it was stolen. No arrest has been made.

An unknown male stole a Trojan Twister vibrator from the Walgreens store on Route 58 Sunday night, according to Riverhead Town police. The item is valued at $69.99, police said.

• A Riverhead woman reported Friday that someone had illegally used her identity to charge three online accounts a total $3,640, according to police. Additional information was not available.

• A group of men was reportedly throwing rocks at vehicles and moving traffic cones on Roanoke Avenue last Tuesday night, according to police. Police located two suspects and escorted them back to their homes, officials say. No charges were filed.

• Kimberly Wells, 49, address unavailable, was charged with petit larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance following her arrest at Kmart on Route 58 Saturday afternoon.

• Anthony Wimms, 21, address unavailable, was charged with petit larceny following his arrest at Target on Route 58 on Sunday night.

• A bicycle was reported stolen from a yard on Osborn Avenue in Riverhead last Wednesday morning, according to police.

State police arrested a Manorville woman Tuesday for driving while impaired by drugs and violating Leandra’s Law, according to a police press release.

Kristen Slone, 35, was pulled over for a vehicle and traffic violation while driving east on Sunrise Highway just west of Route 39 in Southampton, police said. She was found to be driving while impaired by drugs with a child under the age of 16 in the car.

Ms. Slone was charged with driving while impaired by drugs, a felony for Leandra’s Law, misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

• An Aquebogue man was arrested Tuesday for driving while intoxicated in Hampton Bays, police said.

22-year-old Nelson E. Cordova Perez was stopped for a vehicle and traffic violation on Route 24 north of Sunrise Highway, according to a police press release. Officers determined he was intoxicated and arrested him.

Mr. Perez was charged with felony aggravated driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operator in the first degree. He was held overnight for arraignment in Southampton Justice Court.

clisinski@timesreview.com

The alleged details in the case against Riverhead physician’s assistant Michael Troyan were substantial: 60,000 prescription painkillers. 20 co-conspirators. Almost $2 million in sales over a four-year period. A demand for an assault rifle as payment.

When the news broke in November, the community was shocked, with online commenters expressing astonishment, confusion, sadness and anger.

Then, less than three weeks later, Southampton Town Councilman Brad Bender pleaded guilty in federal court to selling oxycodone prescribed for him by Mr. Troyan. Prosecutors said Mr. Bender sold the pills to an unnamed co-conspirator in the drug ring, who then passed them on to other drug abusers in the community.

Mr. Bender resigned from office immediately, prompting the Southampton Town Board to set a special election to replace him.

Mr. Troyan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine if convicted of the charges leveled against him, although court documents from November indicated he was negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors.

He practiced at East End Urgent and Primary Care on East Main Street in Riverhead, where prosecutors said they have audio and visual recordings of him discussing the sale of oxycodone pills with one of the co-conspirators.

Assistant U.S. attorney Allen Bode wrote in a letter to a judge that Mr. Troyan “presents an unacceptable danger to the community.”

“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 wrote.

Although he admitted to selling the pills, Mr. Bender claimed he knew nothing about the larger 20-person drug ring that Mr. Troyan was allegedly operating. Instead, he claimed he began sharing his own medication with another person, who then turned around and sold them to others.

“Unfortunately, what I thought was for personal use [by that person] was not being used for personal use,” Mr. Bender told the News-Review.

clisinski@timesreview.com

The Riverhead community was shocked when Demitri Hampton, a well-liked Suffolk Community College student, was murdered in a Riverside home during a botched burglary in January 2013. His killers remained on the run for nearly two years.

But finally, in October of this year, Mr. Hampton’s family, friends and the Riverhead community got some closure when four people were arrested in connection with his death.

Michael Parrish, 26, of Coram; Danielle Hall, 39, of Calverton; and Corry Wallace, 40, of Riverhead were all charged with second-degree murder. On Oct. 30, a few days after the trio appeared in court, assistant district attorney Glenn Kurtzrock said that a fourth suspect had been identified as the shooter.

Messiah Booker, 27, who is incarcerated upstate on weapons charges, is believed to have fired the bullet that killed Mr. Hampton. Mr. Parrish and Mr. Wallace are believed to have entered the home with weapons, with Ms. Hall driving the getaway car.

Mr. Hampton was fatally shot after the three men entered his cousin’s home, where he was staying with his girlfriend, around 3 a.m. Jan. 27, 2013. The 21-year-old Riverhead High School graduate was up late playing video games in the basement and came upstairs to confront the men. He tried to fight them off in the kitchen, but was shot in the chest. He later died of his injuries at a local hospital.

Mr. Booker remains incarcerated upstate. The other three allegedly involved with the crime — Mr. Wallace, Mr. Parrish and Ms. Hall — are being held without bail at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverside and are scheduled to appear in court in early February for conferences.

A Laurel woman stopped by police for a traffic infraction in Northampton attempted to fool police by providing her sister’s name to the officer, Southampton Town police said. 

Samantha Ann Gormez, 24, was stopped at about 7:22 p.m. on Christmas Day on County Road 51, police said. She gave her sister’s name to avoid getting a ticket for a suspended license, police said.

Instead, police arrested for second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor, as well as aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, also a misdemeanor, police said.

Ms. Gormez was processed at police headquarters and released on an appearance ticket, police said.

A frigid February night turned deadly in Wading River when three people were killed in a chilling domestic violence incident.

The community and Riverhead School District were left to grieve the loss of 17-year-old Danielle Lawrence, one of the victims in the tragedy, who was most likely shot coming to the aid of her mother.

Her mother, 43-year-old Tanya Lawrence, was also killed in the culmination of what police called a long breakup with boyfriend Thomas Calhoun, 44.

Mr. Calhoun shot and killed himself after killing Danielle and her mother inside the 12th Street home where the family lived. Younger daughter Brandy Lawrence, 14, escaped the house after calling police.

Hundreds of people crowded First Baptist Church for the funeral several days later to mourn Tanya and Danielle Lawrence.

Danielle was a sophomore at Riverhead High School, where she played in the orchestra, performed with the Blue Masques theater group and played track and lacrosse.

Friends described her as a shy girl who blossomed once she stepped onto a stage.

Her father, Tony Lawrence, was a teacher and former lacrosse coach with the Riverhead School District. A group of lacrosse alumni launched a fundraising campaign shortly after the tragedy to help offset funeral expenses.

At a fundraiser at Digger’s a few weeks later to establish a scholarship in Danielle’s name, friends wore shirts with the inscription: “The Lawrence Family, Forever In Our Thoughts and Prayers.”

Southampton Police arrested a Riverside man on Flanders Road in Riverside early this morning on an aggravated DWI charge after he was caught driving with a blood alcohol two times over the legal limit, police said.

According to police, 27-year-old Mynor Ronio Zurdo was stopped for traffic violations around 3:30 a.m. and a subsequent investigation revealed that he was drivign drunk.

He was arrested at the scene and held for morning arraignment.

• A Rocky Point man was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol early this morning.

Southampton Police said 26-year-old Matthew Rosario Lapiana, 26, was driving on County Road 105 around 2:30 a.m. when he was stopped for traffic infractions. A subsequent investigation, police said, revealed that he wad driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs.

He was also found to be in possession of Suboxone without a prescription, police said, as well as marijuana. He was arrested and held for a morning arraignment.