A man wearing a face mask used a large rock to break the glass of the front door at the Express Deli and Cafe on Osborn Avenue in Riverhead early Thursday morning and then stole an undisclosed amount of money, Riverhead Town police said. 

Surveillance footage reviewed by police showed the man was dressed in dark clothing and the face mask when he broke into the deli. Police responded at about 12:51 a.m. after receiving a report of a commercial burglar alarm at the location.

Officers found the glass of the front door broken and then determined money had been stolen from the register area, police said. A K-9 unit was dispatched to the scene and a track led to the area of nearby Lincoln Street, however no suspect was located, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Riverhead police at 631-727-4500, ext. 332.

Photo Caption: The broken glass door at Express Deli on Thursday morning after the break-in. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

A Jamesport man was arrested Wednesday on a drunken driving charge in Mattituck, according to a police press release.

James Broderick, 64, was driving on Route 25 at around 11:15 a.m. when police pulled him over for a traffic violation, Southold Town police said.

Police determined Mr. Broderick was intoxicated and charged him with DWI, officials said.

His vehicle was impounded since he had a prior DWI conviction, officials said.

A Riverhead High School graduate was sent to a hospital yesterday after he apparently lost control of his vehicle in Farmingville and struck a tree around 10 a.m.

According to Suffolk County Police, 30-year-old John Moretti was driving a 2006 BMW eastbound on Horseblock Road when he crossed over the westbound lanes and struck a fence.

Police said the Oakwood Drive resident — who graduated RHS in 2004 — was transported by Farmingville Rescue to Stony Brook University, where he was placed in critical condition.

As of Friday morning, SBU did not have anyone under the name John Moretti in their system, so his current status is unclear.

Police said Mr. Moretti’s car was impounded for a safety check and an investigation of the crash is ongoing. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call the Sixth Squad to 854-8652.

Photo Caption: Investigators on scene of the crash. (Credit: Stringer News)

A Riverhead mother was arrested Thursday on felony charges after she was caught driving drunk with her two daughters, Riverhead Town police confirmed.

Prudence Williams, 43, was driving on East Main Street in Riverhead at around 11:30 p.m. when police pulled her over for a traffic violation, officials said.

During the investigation, police found she was intoxicated and had her 6-year-old and 6-month-old daughters in her vehicle, officials said.

Ms. Williams was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, Leandra’s Law and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

Ms. Williams is scheduled to be arraigned Friday at Riverhead Justice Court.

The man who allegedly robbed the Capital One in downtown Riverhead Tuesday was connected to two other bank robberies and arrested Friday by Suffolk County police, according to a press release. 

Vincent Allen, 30, who is homeless, was arrested in connection with bank robberies at the Bank of America in Commack and the TD Bank in Patchogue, police said. The Patchogue bank robbery occurred April 23 and the other bank was robbed Friday, police said.

Riverhead Town police will charge Mr. Allen with two counts of third-degree robbery for Tuesday’s robbery, police said.

Mr. Allen was held overnight following his arrest Friday and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Saturday, police said.

The robbery in Riverhead Tuesday occurred at 5:20 p.m.

A small, vintage aircraft landed in Calverton Saturday afternoon after sustaining motor issues and while taxiing on the runway, a crosswind pushed it onto a grass field at the former Skydive Long Island site, Riverhead Town police said. 

No injuries were reported.

Police received a call at 3:53 p.m. from Luminati Aerospace — which purchased Skydive Long Island last year — about an unauthorized aircraft on the runway that may have crashed, police said. Police found the owner of the single fixed-wing plane, Daniel Charnews, 71, of Centerport, who said he lost control of the aircraft on the runway from the crosswind. The aircraft, a 1947 Stinson 108, ended up leaning on one wing.

The Riverhead Detective Division was notified as well as the FAA, which released the aircraft to the owner. An investigation by the FAA is ongoing, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 727-4500.

Luminati plans to develop unmanned aerial vehicles at the former Grumman site in Calverton for an undisclosed Fortune 250 company.

Photo Caption: The aircraft that landed in Calverton Saturday. (Credit: Riverhead police)

• A 2008 GMC truck was reported stolen from the parking lot of Best Yet Market on Route 58 sometime between 1 a.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, police said. The estimated value of the vehicle was unavailable.

• Two handbags and assorted personal items were reported stolen from a car on Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead last Thursday afternoon. The value of the stolen items is about $600, police said.

• Two women removed $370 worth of clothing from Aeropostale at Tanger Outlets last Wednesday afternoon, police said.

• Franklin Cannedy, age and address unavailable, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance following his arrest on West Main Street in Riverhead Saturday afternoon, police said. Additional information was unavailable.

• A Riverhead resident reported Friday night that an unknown person illegally removed $403 from his Suffolk Federal Credit Union account, police said.

• A Wading River man reported Friday that an unknown person made $187 worth of fraudulent purchases with his credit card, police said.

• Someone reportedly removed six irrigation heads from a property on Wading River-Manor Road in Wading River around 5:30 p.m. Monday. The estimated valued of the stolen items is about $75, police said.

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

The Flanders Fire Department memorial service was held at the firehouse Sunday. Tim Gannon photo

Rainy weather couldn’t stop the annual Flanders Fire Department Memorial Service from going forward Sunday.

Instead of holding it at its usual location at Memorial Park, it was moved indoors to the Flanders firehouse.

Flanders Fire Department chaplain Bob Bourguignon again led the service, which pays tribute to both military veterans and past members of the Flanders Fire Department.

Chaplain Bob Bourguignon leads the annual Flanders Fire Department memorial service Sunday. Tim Gannon photo

An erratic driver was arrested for aggravated DWI Monday after police received several 911 calls warning of a potentially dangerous situation, Southampton Town police said. 

Fredy Giron, 31, of Flanders was driving north on Flanders Road from Hampton Bays when police received the calls at about 8:52 a.m. Police stopped his vehicle and Mr. Giron was found to be intoxicated, police said.

He was charged with DWI in addition to the aggravated DWI charge, both misdemeanors, and multiple traffic violations, including for open alcohol in a motor vehicle, police said.

He was arraigned at Southampton Town Justice Court and remanded to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bail, police said.

Police released security camera footage of a robbery that occurred at a deli on Osborn Avenue late last week. And while a suspect is sought in that case, police also announced that they are seeking information after a car was shot with “several rounds from a shotgun” the following night.

According to police, a dark colored sedan pulled up in front of a Kay Road home around 3:15 a.m. on April 29 and fired several rounds into a Mercedes Sprinter parked in the driveway of the home.

The car then fled the area southbound on Kay Road.

The night before, police already had announced that Express Deli and Café on Osborn Avenue was robbed around 12:48 a.m.

The thief, who appears to be wearing a white hooded sweatshirt in the camera footage, broke the glass in the front door, took cash from the register and then fled on foot northbound on Osborn Avenue.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call police at 727-4500, ext. 633. All calls will remain confidential.

When police spotted a known prostitute exit a car pulled over on the shoulder of Cross River Drive in Flanders, it led to a felony arrest for the driver, Southampton Town police said.

Police arrested Stephen DeRosa of Flanders Sunday on a drug charge after officers observed him to failing to stay in his lane and then failing to signal at around 6:10 p.m. When Mr. DeRosa pulled over, a known prostitute exited the car, police said.

Officers stopped Mr. DeRosa, 53, and he allegedly smelled of alcohol and was found to be intoxicated. Police found a quantity of crack cocaine inside the car as well, police said.

Mr. DeRosa, who has a prior DWI conviction from October 2013, had his car impounded, police said. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction, a felony, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and multiple traffic violations, police said.

For the fourth year running, Riverhead Town police officer Timothy Murphy has been named the department’s top DWI-catching cop.

Mr. Murphy, along with 22 other officers and sheriffs across Suffolk County, were honored Tuesday at Suffolk County Community College for making the most drunken driving arrests in their departments.

“It is extremely important to us that motorists who are driving while intoxicated are stopped,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said.  “DWI tragedies don’t just affect those involved, they impact the families of victims as well.  Suffolk County will not tolerate drunk driving on our roadways.  We are committed to arresting anyone who chooses to drink and then get behind the wheel of a car, endangering the lives of others.”

For Mr. Murphy, it was the fourth straight year he was named a top DWI cop, and the fifth time he was honored since 2010.

Police in Suffolk County made more than 15,000 DWI arrests in the past 3 years.

Other local cops were honored Tuesday include Southold Town police officer Garrett Lake, Shelter Island officer Christopher Drake, who was also honored last year, and Southampton Town officer Keith Phillips.

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo: From left, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Riverhead Town police officerTimothy Murphy and chief Chief David Hegermiller. (Credit: Courtesy)

Southampton Town police arrested a Mattituck man for stealing a car in Flanders last Wednesday.

Thomas Dougherty, 30, was found to be in possession of a 2015 Chrysler 200 around 5:25 p.m. during an investigation of a previous assault, police said.

The car was reported stolen Jan. 20 from Enterprise Rental Car, which is based in Hempstead.

Mr. Dougherty was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony.

He was previously charged with petit larceny in April after taking items from Walmart on Route 58, according to a prior Riverhead News-Review article.

A Riverhead teenager faces first-degree rape charges after he engaged in sexual intercourse with a girl less than 11 years old, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

Eighteen-year-old Bryan Umana was arraigned on a five-count indictment last Friday, according to authorities. The charges include two first-degree rape charges, two first-degree sexual abuse charges, and one charge of endangering the welfare of a child.

Mr. Umana was originally arraigned on April 22, a D.A. spokesperson said, when he was released on $10,000 cash bail. His attorney was unable the attend the arraignment, however, and an arraignment on the indictment was adjourned until April 29.

According to the D.A.’s office, a higher bail of $50,000 was requested in front of Judge Barbara Kahn on April 29, however the bail was kept as is. Mr. Umana is due back in court on May 20 for a conference.

A spokesperson for the D.A. said that Mr. Umana was 17 years old at the time the alleged incident occurred.

Employees at 17 local stores did not sell alcohol to minors during a recent police sting operation, according to a press release issued Friday.

The Riverhead Town Police Department’s COPE Unit conducted New York State Liquor Authority compliance checks and found the following establishments were not in violation of selling alcohol to patrons under the age of 21:

• Village Beverage, 2015 North Country Rd., Wading River

• Speedway Gas Station, 6305 Rte. 25A, Wading River

• Valero Gas Station, 5904 Rte. 25A, Wading River

• 76 Gas Station, 4123 Rte. 25, Calverton

• 7-Eleven gas station, 1733 Old Country Rd., Riverhead

• Riverhead Beverage, 498 Osborne Ave., Riverhead

• Speedway Gas Station, 870 Old Country Rd., Riverhead

• Sound Avenue Grocery, 5087 Sound Ave., Aquebogue

• OK Petro Gas Station, 1212 East Main St., Riverhead

• Riverhead Gulf Gas Station, 415 East Main St., Riverhead

• Riverhead Stationary Store, 407 East Main St., Riverhead

• Time To Eat Deli, 123 West Main St., Riverhead

• Riverhead Market and Grocery, 159 Railroad Ave., Riverhead

• Mae’s Market, 161 Railroad Ave., Riverhead

• Oscar’s Deli, 421 Pulaski St., Riverhead

• Polish Town Deli, 432 Pulaski St., Riverhead

• Riverhead Supermarket and Deli, 945 West Main St., Riverhead

A Wading River woman allegedly stole more than $1,000 worth of jewelry from family members earlier this year, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office. 

Jennifer Maier, 30, faces a grand jury indictment for fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony where the alleged theft exceeds $1,000, according to authorities.

Ms. Maier pleaded not guilty April 27 and was being held on $20,000 bond or $10,000 cash, according to court records. The alleged thefts occurred between Feb. 20 and March 29.

Ms. Maier is due back in court for a conference on May 11. She was arrested by Suffolk County police on March 30, according to court records.

She was arrested twice in January as well, court records show, including for misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance on Jan. 27. That case is still pending in court.

A Westhampton Beach man was arrested Monday for drunk driving in Riverside, Southampton Town police said. 

Christopher Anderson, 21, was reportedly traveling north on Old Quogue Road around 1:50 a.m. with no headlights. Police said Mr. Anderson had bloodshot eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol. He performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests and was also circumventing an interlock device, officials said. He was taken to headquarters for processing and held for arraignment.

Mr. Anderson was charged with driving while intoxicated with a previous conviction within 10 years, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both felonies, circumventing an interlock device, a misdemeanor, and two traffic violations.

• Police arrested a Mastic man for drunk driving in Riverside last Monday.

DeShawn Branker, 23, was reportedly committing multiple vehicle and traffic violations around 12:20 a.m. on Flanders Road. When stopped by police he allegedly smelled like alcohol and had red, glassy eyes and slurred speech. He performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests and failed a pre-screening breath test, police said.

Mr. Branker was charged with driving while intoxicated, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, both misdemeanors, and numerous traffic violations.

• A 33-year-old man was arrested in Flanders for drunk driving last Monday.

Benedicto Artola of Flanders was traveling north on Route 24 around 4:40 a.m. when he was allegedly stopped for driving 91 mph and moving unsafely from his lane. He was unsteady on his feet when police had him exit his car and he failed standard field sobriety tests, police said.

He was charged with DWI, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors, and multiple traffic violations.

• Police arrested a Flanders man Monday for drunk driving in Hampton Bays.

Fredy Giron, 31, was allegedly stopped around 8:50 a.m. after police received numerous calls of someone driving erratically northbound on Flanders Road. Mr. Giron was taken to headquarters, processed and arraigned at Southampton Justice Court. He was remanded to Suffolk County Jail in lieu of $1,500 bail, officials said.

Mr. Giron was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, both misdemeanors, and numerous violations.

• New York State Police arrested a Hauppauge man for drunk driving in Riverhead last Thursday.

Vincent Gomez, 25, was stopped for speeding while traveling east on Route 58 when police determined he was intoxicated, officials said. He was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, police said.

• State police arrested a Perth Amboy, N.J., woman for drunk driving in Flanders on Saturday.

Paola Luque, 35, was reportedly stopped while heading south on Route 24 for driving in the center turning lane when police determined she was intoxicated. She was charged with misdemeanor DWI.

• Southampton police arrested a 39-year-old man for driving with a suspended license in Riverside last Monday.

Salvador Allende of Riverhead was stopped for a traffic violation while headed north on Flanders Road near Cypress Avenue around 12:30 a.m., police said, when they learned he was driving with a suspended license.

He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and two traffic violations.

• A Flanders man was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Water Mill last Monday.

Gustavo Valenzuela, 38, was allegedly stopped for making an illegal turn around 8 a.m. on Diamon Court when police learned he had a suspended license and an active bench warrant from Southampton Town police.

Mr. Valenzuela was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. A delegated officer executed the bench warrant, police said.

• Police arrested a Riverhead man for driving with a suspended license in Flanders last Monday.

Russane Barrett, 23, was pulled over for a traffic violation around 8:30 a.m. on Pleasure Drive when police learned his license was suspended, officials said.

He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, and a traffic violation.

• A Riverhead man was arrested for driving with a suspended license in Water Mill last Monday.

Elmer Martinez, 31, was reportedly driving in the wrong direction on Strongs Lane around 9:10 p.m. when police learned he had a suspended license. His car allegedly also had switched plates.

Mr. Martinez was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and numerous traffic violations.

• Police arrested a Riverhead man for driving with a suspended license in Water Mill last Tuesday.

Edilser Figueroa, 28, was stopped for an illegal left-hand turn on Diamon Court around 7:55 a.m. when police learned his driving privileges were suspended, officials said.

Mr. Figueroa was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor.

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 fire inside a painter’s van was put out by Riverhead firefighters this afternoon around 3:30 p.m. downtown.

According to Riverhead police, the van at the River Pointe apartments was “fully engulfed in flames” before firefighters arrived on scene and put it out.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

Riverhead Fire Marshals were called to the scene to investigate the incident, though it does not appear to be suspicious according to Riverhead Police Sgt. John Devereaux.

When four-year-old Bella, a pitbull Terrier, was brought to Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists hospital in Bohemia at the end of January, she had a laceration around her neck so deep it was cutting into her jugular vein.

Now, three and a half months later, she’s healthy and living at Kent Animal in Calverton waiting for someone to adopt her.

Bella — who lived with her owner, Jaron Miller, 38, of Melville, prior to his arrest on Feb. 1 — was brought to the hospital with an embedded collar, said Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

He believes Bella was given a collar as a puppy and it was never replaced as she grew older.

Ashely Pearson, a veterinarian at Atlantic Coast, said when Bella came to the hospital she had deep wounds around her entire neck, which were infected and nearly 1 inch deep in some areas.

Ms. Pearson said Bella took about a week and a half to treat.

“It was probably many months that this collar was embedded in the dog’s neck,” Mr. Gross said. “Enough to cause severe chronic [suffering] … It looked like somebody took a machete to her. Just absolutely horrible to see a dog like that.”

Mr. Miller was charged with animal cruelty and faces up to a year in prison and/or a $1,000 fine. His next scheduled court appearance is in First District Court in Central Islip on May 17, Mr. Gross said.

Pam Green, the animal shelter’s executive director, said Bella is ready for adoption and gets along with both people and other dogs.

“She has that pitbull stigma. Unfortunately, that follows her so she hasn’t been adopted yet,” Ms. Green said. “She’s super sweet.”

Mr. Gross, a 33-year veteran of the department, said SCPA treats about 3,000 cases of animal cruelty a year and answers even more calls of reported abuse.

“We don’t go out and patrol,” he said. “We need you to step up to the plate when they see or suspect animal cruelty to make the call.”

Those interested in adopting Bella, or any other rescued animals at the shelter, can call  (631) 727-5731 or fill out an application on their website, kentanimalshelter.com.

Those who believe they know of an animal being treated cruelly can call the SCPA anonymously at (631) 382-SCPA.

“Today, we must have someone come up and adopt this dog,” Mr. Gross said. “After all [Bella] been through, she deserves a great home.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Top Photo: Bella, a four-year-old pitbull Terrier, has been at Kent Animal Shelter for three months and is looking for a home. She was brought to the hospital in January with infected wounds from an embedded collar. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

From left: Ashely Pearson, with Bella, Roy Gross and Pam Green speaking at Kent Animal Shelter on Wednesday. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

Ashley Pearson, a doctor at Atlantic Coast Veterinary Specialists who treated Bella’s wounds, with her. (Credit: Nicole Smith)

Riverhead Town police responded to a burglary at Bayview Farm Market in Aquebogue Wednesday morning, according to a press release.

Prior to the Main Road store opening, at least two individuals entered the property and removed cash and assorted merchandise, as seen on a surveillance video, officials said.

Police also responded to a criminal mischief call at Season Farms on Main Road in Jamesport after someone allegedly tried to enter the store through a window air conditioning unit and damaged multiple plants, officials said.

Police believe both incidents are related. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Riverhead Town Police Department at 631-727-4500 ext. 327.