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Police & Courts

What Was In the Safe



A Woodside man driving a company van to the farmers market in Springs in order to sell pickles was charged Saturday morning with 10 misdemeanors, mostly relating to possession of drugs.

East Hampton Town police said Peter Chau was pulled over on North Main Street, East Hampton, because his rear license plate was “crooked.” The officer reportedly found that Mr. Chau’s license had been suspended three times for failure to pay a fine in Queens, which led initially to his arrest.

Police then began to investigate the contents of the van, which Mr.

Aug 7, 2014
Also on the Logs 07.31.14

Amagansett



­On July 21, two bicycles were stolen from a rack on a back porch at a house on Cliff Road. Howard Schneider described them as a red 26-inch women’s Schwinn Streamliner, which had been purchased the day before, and an older maroon 26-inch women’s mountain bike with a large seat. The new bike, which had cost $650, had an Amagansett Beach Company sticker on the base of the frame.



Another bicycle was stolen from a Mako Lane house on July 22 or 23.

Jul 30, 2014
D.W.I. Hit Parked Car, Fled

A 41-year-old East Islip man who allegedly fled the scene of an accident late Saturday night was arrested soon after when his Jeep engine quit.

Jul 30, 2014
Also on the Logs 07.24.14

East Hampton



A 16-year-old Chinese boarding student at the Ross School in East Hampton had her credit card account hacked last month by someone operating in the Washington, D.C., area. The girl’s mother called her from China to say her Visa bill showed four transactions totaling over $2,000, all on the same day and at the same grocery store in Rockville, Md. After the card was canceled, the thief attempted to use it again, this time in Washington.

Jul 23, 2014
Angry Over Cab Fare, Passenger Is Beaten

A late-night taxi ride from Montauk’s Memory Motel to Lee Court in the hamlet and then to Gilbert Road ended in a violent beating for one of the riders, who objected to being charged $50 for the trip.



East Hampton Town police Capt. Chris Anderson said Tuesday that the passenger, Kempton John Coady, 27, of upstate Stamford, N.Y., suffered a black eye and a split lip. Police, who are continuing to investigate the incident, have not released the name of the cab company.



Mr.

Jul 23, 2014
Noyac Acupuncturist Charged

A Noyac acupuncturist, Michael P. Gohring, was charged last week with sexual abuse of a patient.



Southampton Town police arrested Mr. Gohring, 64, at his office at 3297 Noyac Road on July 12, the day after the alleged incident took place. According to Detective Sgt.

Jul 23, 2014
Rape Case Victim Will Testify

The case of the People of the State of New York vs. Jason Lee is slowly making its way to trial at the Cromarty Criminal Courts building in Riverside. Mr. Lee, a former managing partner at Goldman Sachs, is accused of raping a young Irish student last August at his summer rental house on Clover Leaf Lane in East Hampton.



Prosecutors and defense attorneys met on Friday to confer in the chambers of State Supreme Court Justice Barbara Kahn, who is hearing the case. Justice Kahn set the next court date for Aug.

Jul 23, 2014
Two Deaths on the Water in One Day

A 39-year-old Brooklyn man lost his life on Sunday at Napeague Harbor in Amagansett, where he had gone to kite surf. His death was the first of two on the water that day. That evening, James A. Weber, an East Hampton man who was to have celebrated his 45th birthday yesterday, died after collapsing in shallow water on the west side of the Three Mile Harbor inlet near Sammy’s Beach in East Hampton.



Nicholas Valtz, a managing director at Goldman Sachs Group in Manhattan, left his house in Bridgehampton early Sunday for Napeague Harbor.

Jul 23, 2014
Acupuncturist Accused of Sexual Abuse

Micheal P. Gohring of Sag Harbor was arrested at his office at 3297 Noyac Road in Noyac, the police said, "after a patient had disclosed that he had sexually abused her during an appointment."

Jul 17, 2014
Also on the Logs 07.17.14

Amagansett



A window on a Main Street shop was damaged by a vandal sometime between last Thursday night and Friday morning. Madgelena Gubala-Ryzak said she had arrived at Vernacular on Friday to discover the damage, which may have been caused by a BB gun. The window will cost $1,000 to replace, she told police.

Someone spray-painted over the numbered markers used as reference points by emergency responders on the beach in the area of Albert’s Landing Road late last month.

Jul 16, 2014
Bicyclist Hit By Car

A Montauk man was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital on Friday after being hit by a car while riding  in the hamlet.



East Hampton Town police are still investigating the accident, which occurred on Flamingo Avenue just south of Falcon Place at 4:04 a.m. The driver, Raymond Eng, 80, of Briarwood, Queens, was headed north on Flamingo Avenue in a 1995 Volvo when he struck Raymond W. Bimson, 32.



The Montauk Fire Department’s ambulance company treated Mr. Bimson, and a Suffolk County police helicopter airlifted him to Stony Brook.

Jul 16, 2014
Charged in Cyclist’s Death

A Southampton man charged with drunken driving on May 2 after his car struck and killed a bicyclist on County Road 39 has been indicted by a grand jury on multiple felony charges, including manslaughter. Jesse Werner Steudte, 21, pleaded not guilty to the new charges at his arraignment Tuesday in the Central Islip courtroom of acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho.



Neil S. Fyfe, 29, a professional golf caddie from Aberdeen, Scotland, was biking home from his job at the Sebonack Club in Southampton when he was struck and killed by an eastbound 1990 Jeep.

Jul 16, 2014
Revenge Plot Alleged

A Turkish couple living in Riverhead were arrested last Thursday in connection with email messages describing a plot to blow up the Jewish Center of the Hamptons.

Jul 16, 2014
Second D.W.I. Felony for Man in Nine Days

An East Hampton man who pleaded guilty to a felony drunken-driving charge in County Criminal Court, Riverside, on June 30, was arrested on the same charge nine days later.



Gerardo M. Lligui’s probation officer was waiting at his house on West Drive to interview him when he returned from his job. As Mr.

Jul 16, 2014
Town Trustee Is Cuffed

A dispute between two men at a Maidstone Park beach barbecue Saturday night ended with an East Hampton Town Trustee, Nathaniel H. Miller, in handcuffs, charged by town police with choking the other man.



According to a witness, Mr. Miller and Clint Bennett, a town employee, were in a heated argument at about 7:30 Saturday evening. Mr. Bennett said, “Do something about it,” the witness reported, at which time Mr. Miller, according to the police report, used both arms to put him in a headlock. When he was released, Mr.

Jul 16, 2014
‘I Was Here, You Were Not,’ Said the Judge

A Springs man who told East Hampton Town Justice Lisa Rana during his arraignment Sunday morning that he had forgotten his previous court date has been in the county jail since then, unable to raise bail.



After Christopher S. Pulido, 22, who has 20 unresolved charges against him stemming from a total of eight arrests, failed to show up in court on July 3, Justice Rana issued a warrant for his arrest.

Jul 16, 2014
Montauk Bicyclist Hurt in Early Morning Crash

Raymond W. Bimson, 32, was riding his bicycle on Flamingo Avenue when he was hit by a Volvo on Friday just after 4 a.m.

Jul 11, 2014
Also on the Logs 07.10.14

Amagansett

A road-rage incident on the afternoon of June 30 will end up costing the reported victim about $200. Michael McHugh told police he was driving west on Amagansett Main Street near Indian Wells Highway when a motorcycle stopped suddenly in front of him. When he tried to pass it, the driver deliberately damaged his side mirror, then sped off.



East Hampton

A wallet left in a parked car on Berryman Street was stolen overnight on May 26.

Jul 9, 2014
Biking on Shoulder, Hit by Car

A bicyclist, Steven Ramirez, 26, of Philadelphia, was taken to Southampton Hospital last Thursday afternoon after being hit by a car on Route 114 near Goodfriend Drive in East Hampton. The driver, James M. Bayrami, 25, of Sag Harbor, who was arrested after the accident and charged with driving while impaired by drugs, was to be brought back to East Hampton Town Justice Court today after being taken to the county jail in Riverside, unable to make bail.

Jul 9, 2014
Cabbie Said to Stun Fare

The owner of a Montauk taxi company was charged with felony assault Saturday night after he allegedly used an electric stun gun on a potential fare. According to the alleged victim, John Bolaris, and his fiancée, Erica Smitheman, Mark A. Ripolone, 26, who owns Ditch Plains Taxi, was stopped outside the Gig Shack at a little before midnight, when the streets of downtown Montauk were filled with post-fireworks revelers. Mr. Bolaris and his fiancée had just left the restaurant.

Jul 9, 2014
Grand Larceny at CVS

A Hempstead man accused on July 1 of stealing almost $2,000 worth of Gillette Fusion razors from CVS spent five days in the county jail this past week.



East Hampton Village police arrested Sanusi Alhajr Jalloh, 41, after the Pantigo Road store closed that night, and charged him with grand larceny. Police said he had stolen 56 packages of razors.



Mr. Jalloh faces an additional felony count of possession of stolen property. Bail was set in East Hampton Town Justice Court the next morning at $7,000.

Jul 9, 2014
Stormy Boat Rescue on 4th

A racing yacht was rescued 36 miles southeast of Montauk Point on the Fourth of July by a boat deployed from the Coast Guard station on Star Island.



“Initially, our mission was to escort them,” Petty Officer Second Class Ismael Velasquez said Monday. “We were the only offshore vessel. It was kind of a gamble.”



He said that the Shinnecock Coast Guard station had been shut down due to rough seas from Hurricane Arthur.

Jul 9, 2014
Also on the Logs 07.03.14

Amagansett

A Specialized 21-speed mountain bicycle that was “left unsecured” at the entrance to Indian Wells Beach was stolen the afternoon of June 25. Eric Kalabacos told police he had been at the beach for an hour when he discovered the theft. Police gave the lifeguards a description of the $1,200 blue-and-white bicycle and asked them to be on the lookout for it.



Two bikes were stolen from a Mako Lane yard on the night of June 21. Julia Loudon described one as an “older, rusty, dark blue Free Spirit woman’s bike” with a basket on front.

Jul 2, 2014
Cop Hurt in Wainscott Chase

A Brooklyn man was arrested by East Hampton Village and Town officers Friday afternoon following a chase through the woods near Georgica Pond in Wainscott. A town officer, who suffered a knee injury during the pursuit, finally stopped the fleeing man by discharging his Taser.



Paul Freckleton, 25, who was riding a motorcycle, was first stopped by the village officer, near Georgica restaurant, where he is employed as a cook.



“One of our officers made a stop for passing on the right,” said Detective Lt. Anthony Long. Mr.

Jul 2, 2014
D.W.I. Still Wearing His World Cup Jersey

A native of Colombia who spent Saturday night celebrating his nation’s World Cup victory against Uruguay that day wound up on a gurney outside East Hampton Town Justice Court Sunday morning following his arraignment on a charge of drunken driving.



Christhian Eduardo Roa, 30, was pulled over on Montauk Highway at 5:30 a.m. Sunday for swerving across lane lines.

Jul 2, 2014
Learning to Find Hidden Drugs

The discovery by East Hampton Village police of a large cache of marijuana reportedly concealed under the hood of a BMW during a routine traffic stop in May was the impetus for a day-long class for law enforcement officials on the variety of ways criminals conceal drugs, weapons, cash, and other contraband in a vehicle.



Conducted at East Hampton Village police headquarters on Friday by Jason Robles, a New York State trooper who freelances with Palestra Group International, the eight-hour course drew 71 law enforcement professionals from agencies as diverse as the East H

Jul 2, 2014
Quick Response, Bad Damage Nonetheless

The Springs Fire Department quickly extinguished a fire that was believed to have started on the exterior of a house in Springs on Tuesday evening, but the house was badly damaged, according to Chief Ben Miller.



A neighbor reported flames at 52 Cedar Drive, between Locust and Dogwood Drives, at 5:46 p.m., according to the chief.

Jul 2, 2014
Six Departments Battle a House Fire

Firefighters from six departments braved hot, humid weather last Thursday to battle a fire at 285 Hayground Road in Water Mill, north of Montauk Highway. The fire was caused by “a major electrical event,” John Rankin, a Southampton Town fire marshal, said this week. It started in the attic and badly damaged the older part of the house, leaving it temporarily uninhabitable.

Jul 2, 2014
Target Under-Age Drinking

The New York State Police are deploying more assets on the South Fork, leading to more arrests on alcohol-related charges. “We’re focusing on the midnight tours,” Sgt. James Marrone said Tuesday. “We’re sending out at least one vehicle when we have a car available.”



Besides making arrests on driving while intoxicated charges, state police have also launched an operation to catch those who sell alcohol to under-age drinkers.

Jul 2, 2014
Three Chairs and a Baseball Bat

Keen O. Rodney, 32, who splits his time between Florida and Montauk, was arrested last week on a felony assault charge after an alleged fight with his roommates over some fish, but asserted during his arraignment last Thursday that he was in fact the victim. He was defending himself, he said, when he swung a baseball bat at Omar Godfried Deer, breaking the man’s wrist.



The fight happened at around noon on June 24. Mr. Deer told East Hampton Town detectives that he and Mr. Rodney had been roommates for the past few weeks on Second House Road, along with Mr.

Jul 2, 2014