From road-rage complaints and rogue pest-control canvassers to overturned canoes, unpermitted waterfront structures and a nearly $700 cab fare from JFK to Orient that ended with a mystery passenger speeding off by boat, Southold Town police had a lot on their plates this week. The latest blotter features everything from kayakers in distress off Orient Point and a waterfront restaurant shouting match in Greenport to suspicious youths mistaken for bonfire builders, a hit-and-run involving a telephone pole on Fishers Island, and a mother and her children who briefly became suspects in an alleged caboose caper.
Road rage
June 8 – Around 2:30 p.m., police received reports of a vehicle “running vehicles off the roadway” on Middle Road in Peconic. A responding officer located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, a 61-year-old Mattituck man, said he was “unaware of any incidents with any vehicles.” He showed no signs of impairment, according to a police report, and was let go with a warning to drive safely.
Around 3:30 p.m., police on Fishers Island received a report of a hit-and-run. According to a police report, a Fishers Island Telephone Company employee reported a vehicle striking a telephone pole, as well as a fence and some bushes. The employee wished to have the incident documented.
Around 4 p.m., a police marine unit responded to the waters off New Suffolk Ave. in Cutchogue, for a report of two individuals in the water with an overturned canoe. The two people, one from Baiting Hollow and the other from Croton Falls, NY, told police they launched the canoe from South Jamesport Beach, but following a strong current the canoe began taking on water. The two individuals got out and swam ashore. One of them was escorted by police back to South Jamesport Beach to retrieve his vehicle. Neither required medical attention.
Around 4:15 p.m., police on received a 911 call from “a subject experiencing difficulty breathing” near Equestrian Ave. on Fishers Island. Police responded both on foot and in patrol cars and canvassed the area, but were unable to locate the individual. Dispatch was able to make contact with the person, who said they did not need medical assistance, but disconnected the call without identifying their location.
Around 6:40 p.m., police were called to Vanston Rd. in Cutchogue, for a report of a man wearing “a black shirt that said ‘Shield,’ walking around the neighborhood with an iPad. A responding officer located the individual, who said he works for Shield Pest Control and had worked on a house in the area and was waiting to be picked up. Last week, police received multiple complaints about people representing the company going door-to-door selling their pest control services, without the proper permits. One saleman told police at least five people had been dropped off to knock on doors. The salesman was advised to contact his colleagues and inform them that they were in violation of town code.
Around 7:30 p.m., police responded to North Rd. in Greenport West for a report of a car with a “wobbly tire,” but were unable to locate the vehicle in question.
Restaurant rage
Around 8:30 p.m., police were called to a waterfront restaurant at the end of Main St. in Greenport, for a report of an “unknown irate male yelling aggressively” in front of patrons. Responding officers located and identified a 51-year-old Greenport man, who told police “he was offended by the actions of another patron towards him, which caused him to be upset.” Police located the “offender,” a 56-year-old Ft. Lauderdale, Florida man, who told cops that he was sitting at his table on the deck of the restaurant “when his chair made contact with [the Greenport man’s] table.” The Florida man told police that the Greenport man “became upset and started screaming about how he felt offended.” The Greenport man, who a police report noted appeared intoxicated, was convinced to leave the establishment.
June 9 – Around 1 a.m., several police unit responded to Middle Rd. and Lipco Rd. in Mattituck, for a report of an occupant of a Lexus “brandishing what appeared to be a firearm at [another] motorist.” Police located the vehicle and initiated a felony traffic stop on Peconic Lane. Neither the passenger nor the driver was found to be in possession of a firearm, according to a police report, but they did “admit to a road rage incident with another motorist.”
Around 10:30 a.m., police were called to the Southold Town Human Services office o Pacific St. in Mattituck, after a 70-year-old man applying for assisted living housing allegedly called an employee who was assisting him with paperwork a “whore.” The employee told police the man has been using the community center’s services for the past two days, and has acted “belligerently” towards staff. Police advised the 70-year-old that he is not welcome back at the center until he “agrees to treat staff with respect.”
One foot too many
Around 1:30 p.m., police responded to a waterfront home on Soundview Ave. in Southold, for a report of an unpermitted wooden structure extending past the bulkhead. A responding officer observed “a wooden deck chair and stair structure attached to the existing bulkhead.” The homeowner, Nick Pologeorgis of Southold, told police he had a permit for the structure, but no such permit was found in town records, according to a police report. The homeowner was issued a summons, the report said.
Around 2 p.m., police responded to North Rd. in Greenport West for a report of a large brick patio “reportedly constructed without a [town trustee] permit. The patio was allegedly within the 50-foot Coastal Erosion Hazard Area. A measurement was taken, and it was determined that patio extended about one foot into the regulated areas. Homeowner Karen Mannix was issued a summons, according to a police report.
Around 3 p.m., a police marine unit responded to a report of a pair of kayakers “in distress” off Orient Point State Park. The Orient Fire Dept. also responded, in their 28-foot vessel. The OFD was able to make contact with the kayakers and bring them safely aboard the boat. OFD transported the kayakers back to the park.
Around 8 p.m., police received a report of “two gray vehicles … possibly drag racing” on Sixth St. in Greenport. Police canvassed the area in search of the cars, but were unable to locate them.
June 10 – Around noon, police received a report from the Greenport Building Dept. of a vehicle “abandoned” near Third St. and Webb St. Police found the vehicle to be parked legally, with a valid insurance sticker. They contacted the owner, who “drives the vehicle often,” and made him aware of the complaints, but took no action because there were no violations. A couple hours later, police observed a vehicle parked on First St. that “appeared to have been parked at that location for an extended period of time,” with a suspended registration. The vehicle was towed and the license plates secured by police.
We didn’t start the fire
Around 2 p.m., police responded to Soundview Dunes County Park, for a report of a “group of youths” who appeared to be preparing to start a bonfire, from a resident who said that bonfires have been an ongoing issue on the beach. A responding officer made contact with the group, who told him they were filming a video for an AP class project. There was no indication they were preparing to start a bonfire, according to a police report.
Around 5 p.m., a Fiddler Lane resident in Greenport West called police to say that two unknown males were “at her doorstep.” A responding officer found a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old, who said they were waiting for the woman’s son to get home “so they could ‘have words.’” The cop told the young people to leave, which they did.
June 11 – Around 3 p.m., an East Marion woman arrived at police headquarters and turned in a purse she said she had found at the boat ramp on Indian Neck Lane. Police were able to make contact with the owner, who retrieved the lost purse.
Fare evasion, maritime edition
Around 10:30 p.m., a New York City cab driver contacted police to report that he had taken a fare from JFK airport in Queens to an Orient Point waterfront restaurant/marina. The fare was $697.70, according to the cabbie. The passenger — who was described as about 30 years old, with dirty blonde hair – used an American Express card but it was declined. When told he would have to pay the fare in cash, according to the driver, the man “ignored him and exited the vehicle,” where he was “met by another … male at the dock … the two men proceeded to get into a boat and leave.” Police canvassed the area without locating the suspect, but reported that they would follow up and seek surveillance footage from the marina.
June 13 – Around 11:30 a.m., police received a call about “two individuals who appeared to try to gain access to the red caboose” at the corner of Fourth St. and Wiggins St. in Greenport. A responding officer found “a mother and two kids outside the red caboose. Negative problem. No further action taken.”
All individuals named in police reports are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Charges may be reduced, dismissed or result in an acquittal.