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'Gray Fungus' and Brass Knuckles Found in Car Stop

Thu, 03/11/2021 - 10:29

Thomas Ingoglia of Manhasset, 21, was arrested early Sunday morning at the Plaza in Montauk on a felony charge of criminal possession after East Hampton Town police reported finding a hallucinogen in his 2017 Subaru. A redacted report, which did not say why officers stopped the car, stated that officers found more than 25 milligrams "of a gray fungus material alleged to be Psilocybin" in an unmarked orange pill bottle on the front passenger-side floor. The driver was additionally charged with criminal possession of a weapon, described as "metal knuckles," found in the console. Mr. Ingoglia appeared in East Hampton Town Justice Court later that morning before Justice Lisa R. Rana, who released him on his own recognizance to await a future court date.

A notable uptick in traffic arrests suggests that spring may be closer than the groundhog thought. In East Hampton Town, four men were booked for aggravated unlicensed operation. Letcher Johnson of Southampton and Henry Veliz of Riverhead appeared in Justice Court yesterday; Richard Rathjen of Central Islip and Sean Harnett of East Hampton will appear there on Wednesday. Bobbi Sayler of East Hampton, who was charged by village police with driving without insurance or registration, was also in court yesterday.

In Sag Harbor, Romell Walker of Shirley is to be in court there on Wednesday to answer charges of driving without a license or a valid inspection sticker. Six other drivers, all charged with suspended registration, will join him that day: Carlos Parra of East Hampton, Sebastian Staeckeler of South Dakota, Milton Balbuca Gordillo of Medford, Enma Guarango Fajardo of Sag Harbor, Nana Essandho of the Bronx, and Crescencio Rojas-Flores of Southampton.

On Surveillance State Jitters

George Orwell and “1984” were repeatedly invoked during a panel discussion of surveillance technology at LTV Studios Tuesday, particularly the Flock Safety license plate readers that have appeared here and across the country.

Oct 1, 2026

On the Police Logs 10.01.26

Two men jumped out of a passing car and attacked a man walking at 2:30 a.m. last Thursday near Queens Lane, according to police, who said that while the victim did appear to be injured, he refused to identify his assailants except to say they were “friends” of his.

Oct 1, 2026

‘Inconsistencies in Font, Texture’ the Clue

Forged documents led to the arrest of a Barnes Landing man last week.

Oct 1, 2026

All Eyes on Flock Cameras

LTV Studios in Wainscott will be the site of a forum on the controversial Flock Safety cameras as well as the proliferating use of drones and the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency on Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

Sep 24, 2026

 

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