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Police & Courts

As the Sun Went Down



There were no arrests made by either the East Hampton Town or Village Police Departments on drunken-driving charges this past week. There was one such arrest in Sag Harbor, which took place as the sun went down on Halloween.

Sag Harbor Village police stopped Michael Beckman, 69, at about 5:30 p.m., saying his 2005 Mercedes Benz convertible had gone through a red light at the intersection of Main Street and Brick Kiln Road. He was pulled over by the Getty gas station and reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests.

Nov 6, 2014
Needles, Spoon, Heroin in the Sunglasses Case



East Hampton Village police charged a Bohemia man early Friday morning with possession of heroin and two other misdemeanors.

An officer stopped David J. Birgeles’s 2013 Nissan on Montauk Highway for speeding, according to the report, and while talking to him felt he was “extremely nervous” and “making furtive movements.” Mr. Birgeles, 35, agreed to have his car searched, and police said they found a sunglasses case in the driver-side door containing four hypodermic needles, a spoon, a tourniquet, and a metal rod.

Nov 6, 2014
On the Police Logs 11.06.14



Amagansett

An employee of D’Canela, a restaurant on Main Street, was punched in the face several times during a dispute with a patron early Sunday morning. The patron, a male, had allegedly entered the women’s bathroom and pushed a female out of it. That prompted the employee to step in, and punches followed. The patron was forced to leave the restaurant and told not to return.

Nov 6, 2014
High School Youths Charged



Three seniors at Southampton High School were caught in the act of burglarizing a Springs residence on Friday afternoon, according to the East Hampton Town Police Department. The three, all aged 17 and residents of Southampton, were arrested on felony charges of burglary and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Police said the trio, whose last names were not released because they may be eligible for youthful offender treatment, had targeted the house of a 16-year-old East Hampton High School student, whose name was blacked out on the report.

Oct 30, 2014
Incompetent to Stand Trial



A man who walked the grounds of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons on Oct. 8 carrying a spring-loaded baton, classified by East Hampton Village police as a weapon, has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial, it was announced last Thursday in East Hampton Town Justice Court. Justice Steven Tekulsky had sent Daniel Glazer, 41, of Rego Park, for psychiatric evaluation two days after the incident.

Mr. Glazer was arrested in downtown Montauk on Oct. 9. Because of the finding, however, the two misdemeanor charges against him will be dropped.

Oct 30, 2014
Irish Press Follow Lee Case



A trial date for Jason Lee, a former Goldman-Sachs managing director accused of raping an Irish woman in East Hampton during the summer of 2013, has not been scheduled, but Irish eyes are watching.

Reporters for three Irish news organizations have been turning up at Mr. Lee’s court appearances in Riverside. Mr. Lee is to appear for a 16th time in the courtroom of Supreme Court Justice Barbara Kahn on Nov. 17, when his trial is to be scheduled.

“It’s got several elements,” Rob Crilly, a freelance journalist covering the story for The Irish Times, said.

Oct 30, 2014
Leandra’s Law Arrest



A New York State trooper arrested an East Hampton man on Saturday night on a charge of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the car, a felony.

State police said Flavio E. Pena-Vallejo, 42, was drunk when he was pulled over for a traffic violation on Montauk Highway near Ocean Road in Bridgehampton a little before midnight. His 6-year-old son was in the back of his 1998 Honda Civic in a booster seat.

Mr. Pena-Vallejo was taken to state police headquarters in Riverside, where he agreed to take a breath test.

Oct 30, 2014
On the Police Logs 10.30.14



Amagansett

An exterior wall of the Ganeaux clothing store on Main Street was vandalized with spray paint on the evening of Oct. 19. A witness followed the vandal, who crossed the street a couple of times before disappearing into the municipal parking lot. Police checked the area to no avail.

 

Olivia Kronemeyer left Indian Wells Tavern early Friday morning and went to a male friend’s house on Indian Wells Highway. When she entered, she told police, one of her friend’s roommates began screaming at her.

Oct 30, 2014
High-Speed Chase Nabs Ex-Bonac Star



A former star of East Hampton High School’s football team was arrested early last Thursday morning on a number of criminal charges, including two felony drug counts.

Joseph Dowling of Sag Harbor, 22, driving a 2014 Mazda, had led East Hampton Town police on a chase along Route 114, driving “in excess of 100 miles per hour,” according to the report.

The pursuit began on Swamp Road after a police cruiser activated its lights and then its siren to no avail. Police said Mr.

Oct 23, 2014
On the Police Logs 10.23.14



East Hampton

A Bull Path Close woman reported having a $20,000 gold ring with a “blue-white stone diamond” stolen from her nightstand on Aug. 30. Mary Winston told police the ring had belonged to her mother, and she had had it fitted for her pinkie.

Oct 23, 2014
Police Brutality Claim Dismissed by Jury



A Springs man’s claim of police brutality during an arrest in January was rejected by a jury last Thursday in East Hampton Town Justice Court.

Five women and one man found William Cuthbert, 56, guilty of two of three charges against him after a three-day trial. The most serious charge, misdemeanor resisting arrest, can result in up to a year in prison, but courtroom observers said that was unlikely.

Speaking about what occurred on the morning of Jan. 23, Mr.

Oct 23, 2014
Two Arrests in Springs



Two Springs men who had vehicular accidents there last week ended up in the custody of the East Hampton Town Police, facing charges of driving while intoxicated.

Kevin E. Collum, 58, was driving a 2007 Mercedes-Benz east on Hog Creek Road last Thursday night when a deer ran in front of his car, according to the accident report. He veered off the road, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a utility pole near White Burch Lane. Mr.

Oct 23, 2014
Held in Jewish Center Encounter



A Queens man who was seen at the Jewish Center of the Hamptons on Oct. 8 carrying an expandable baton was referred for psychiatric evaluation Friday after an appearance in East Hampton Town Justice Court.

Two officials of the center who approached the man and asked what he wanted were told that he “was here to pray to the gods.” After-school activities were taking place on the grounds, and the two asked him leave.

Oct 16, 2014
On the Police Logs 10.16.14



East Hampton Village

A number of black Lincoln Navigators were reported “driving up and down” Pondview Lane Friday evening. An officer sent to investigate told the caller there was a film festival event at Guild Hall and several of the participants’ vehicles were parked nearby. “Situation normal,” the officer said.

James Fennell’s recycling center permit was stolen from his car while it was parked in the long-term lot by the train station last week.

Police removed a real estate sign from Georgica Road Oct.

Oct 16, 2014
Lifeguard Honored for Rescue



Katie Osiecki of Amagansett received a proclamation from the New York State Assembly during an East Hampton Town Board meeting last Thursday, honoring her for saving a woman who was drowning in Napeague Bay last year.

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele decided to seek what he called the assembly’s “highest honor” for Ms. Osiecki after learning she had received the prestigious Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund in Pittsburgh. Andrew Carnegie established the fund in 1904 to recognize those who risk their lives, and Ms.

Oct 9, 2014
On the Police Logs 10.09.14



East Hampton

Two signs at Pantigo Road and Pantigo Place were vandalized during the overnight hours of Sept. 27. Signs for Pete’s Endless Summer Taco Shop and the East Hampton Healthcare Center were damaged. Police estimated the repair costs at $1,000.

 

East Hampton Village

Police received a report about a deer stuck in a fence at a house on East Hollow Road on Saturday.

Oct 9, 2014
Two More Felony Charges



East Hampton Town police made two felony arrests last week in addition to those reported on the front page of this issue.

Edwin Robles-Bravo, a marble worker headed west in a company pickup truck on Further Lane in Amagansett Saturday afternoon, lost control of the vehicle just past the Skimhampton Road intersection, police said. The truck plowed through a “No Trucks Allowed” sign before rolling over.

One of Mr. Robles-Bravo’s two passengers was taken to Southampton Hospital for treatment. Meantime, police said, Mr.

Oct 9, 2014
Suspect in Custody After Townwide Manhunt

Update: East Hampton Town police identified Valon Shoshi, a 28-year-old living in Springs, as the armed man they took into custody earlier on Friday after a three-hour search.

Oct 3, 2014
Break-Ins at Two Firehouses



Police are investigating whether break-ins at two firehouses last week were related.

Sag Harbor Fire Department Chief James Frazier reported a burglary at the headquarters on Brick Kiln Road in Sag Harbor Village on the afternoon of Sept. 23. Village police said someone broke into the change machines in the recreation room, taking an unknown amount of money, and also stole about $15 from a donation jar. The burglary occurred between 9 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 1 p.m. on Sept.

Oct 2, 2014
D.W.I. Charge Dismissed in August Accident

 

A judge has dismissed a drunken-driving charge against Mosel Katzter, whose vehicle was involved in a roll-over accident on Aug. 4 that sent him and three passengers to the hospital.

“I was not intoxicated the night of the car accident,” Mr. Katzter said in an email to The Star. He blamed the accident on faulty brakes. “Too late for me, I found out the hard way that my car model was recalled twice in the last five years for braking problems.” 

Oct 2, 2014
Domestic Violence Arrests



Two East Hampton men were arraigned in East Hampton Justice Court recently after alleged acts of domestic violence, despite orders of protection against them.

Jaime O. Uzhca, 28, was arrested at about 11 p.m. on Sept. 22, according to East Hampton Town police, after pulling Carmen Yamba-Tenezaca’s hair and kicking her on her leg, abdomen, and upper arms, at their house on Harrison Avenue in Springs. Justice Lisa R. Rana had granted the woman an order of protection against him in July 2013, good for two years.

On the evening of Sept.

Oct 2, 2014
On the Police Logs 10.02.14



Amagansett

Graffiti was discovered at the back of the restrooms in the parking lot at Atlantic Avenue Beach on Aug. 20. Partially illegible, it began with, “As long as Bloods.” The East Hampton Town Parks and Recreation Department did not estimate the cost of repairing the damage.

East Hampton Village

Officers got involved in a dispute occurring right outside the dispatching headquarters at the Emergency Services Building on Cedar Street on Sunday a little after 10 a.m.

Oct 2, 2014
On the Police Logs 09.25.14



Amagansett

A New York man who left a blue canvas bag on an outdoor picnic table at Brent’s on Sept. 17 while he went into the store for a short time, returned to find his wallet missing. Jonathan Papaik told police the brown Coach wallet contained about $400, credit cards, and two gift cards with several hundred dollars on them. The police report was censored, but it appears that the thief used one of the credit cards at the store’s cash register.

Police were called to a Cranberry Hole Road house on the night of Sept. 12 on a report of trespassing.

Sep 25, 2014
Summer’s Earnings All Gone



Soon after Labor Day, during what East Hampton Town police called an illegal eviction, 12 university students from the island of Jamaica, working in East Hampton on J1 visas for the summer, lost many of their possessions, as well as thousands of dollars in cash. The thief, police believe, was an intermediary entrusted by the students to handle the lease arrangements.

The 12, all living in a house on Oakview Highway in East Hampton, had each paid $500 security for the first two weeks of their lease and another $500 apiece for the last two.

Sep 25, 2014
‘Apartment Dogs’



A Springs second-home owner was brought in to East Hampton Town Justice Court Monday in handcuffs.

James Pine, 50, had been ticketed on May 31 by an East Hampton Animal Control officer because his two English bulldogs, Penelope and Theo, were found to have no licenses. Twice thereafter, in July and August, Mr. Pine failed to appear in court, leading Justice Steven Tekulsky to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Mr. Pine reportedly went to the courthouse Monday to resolve the outstanding tickets, but because of the warrant he was arrested.

Sep 25, 2014
Three Boaters Rescued in Gardiner's Bay

Three men were rescued from Gardiner's Bay Monday night after a search that began with a 911 call when their small boat began taking on water.

Sep 23, 2014
Class D Felony Charged in Motorcyclist’s Injury



A Suffolk County grand jury has charged the man East Hampton Town police charged with drunken driving after a collision on Montauk Highway on Napeague in June that sent a motorcyclist to the hospital with critical injuries. The charge, assault by recklessly causing serious injury with a weapon (his 2013 BMW), is a Class D felony, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison. In an indictment unsealed last Thursday, Jason E.

Sep 18, 2014
Felony D.W.I. Alleged



There were just two alcohol-related arrests on town roads over the last 10 days, one of which brought charges of felony drunken driving.

East Hampton Town police said they stopped Kaitlyn H. Buckley’s 2007 Lexus early Sunday morning on Bluff Road in Amagansett, near Atlantic Avenue, because it had a burnt-out headlight. Ms.

Sep 18, 2014
Jailed in Lieu of $50,000 Bail



East Hampton Town police in conjunction with the East End Drug Task Force arrested a Montauk man on Sept. 10 on charges of dealing cocaine during the summer of 2013.

Benjamin Carrero-Candelaria, 22, a native of Puerto Rico who spent this summer as well working in Montauk, was charged with four felonies involving sales of the narcotic over a five-week period. East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky set bail of $50,000 at his arraignment last Thursday, which was not posted. Mr.

Sep 18, 2014
On the Police Logs 09.18.14



Amagansett

Three parking signs in a parking area behind Tiina the Store were vandalized in the early morning hours last Thursday. Jonathon Rosen told police the damage would cost about $200 to repair.

East Hampton

Jane Reutershan received a call on Sept. 3 from someone claiming to be her grandson, saying he had been in a car accident. Suspicious, she questioned the caller, who then hung up. After confirming that her grandchildren were all in good health, she reported the call to police.

Sep 18, 2014