It was another colorful week on the North Fork police beat, where a motorcycle rider allegedly traded the open road for McDonald’s and Fireball whiskey, a Halloween prankster dressed as Michael Myers gave Greenport restaurant patrons a fright and a teenage house party in Cutchogue took a gassy turn. Elsewhere, a sneezing fit explained some erratic driving, a pickup truck’s alleged doughnuts was explained as a solitary music-listening session and a Southold resident discovered that even shaving cream can be used to deliver a foul-mouthed message.
Oct. 27 – Around 6 a.m., police received a report of a dog barking for about a half hour near Pine Tree Rd and Sterling Rd. in Peconic. Police canvassed the area but did not hear any dogs barking or in distress.
The biker, the burger and the bottle
Around noon, police received a report of a dirt bike with a possibly intoxicated driver on Main Road in Laurel. A responding officer observed a motorcycle passing the vehicles over the double yellow line on Main Road near Pacific St., before turning left onto Wickham Ave. northbound, and make a right onto Route 48. The officer located the motorcycle, with an exhaust that was hot to the touch, at a location on Hamilton Ave., according to a police report. The driver was located inside a residence, “eating McDonalds and drinking Fire Ball [whiskey],” the report said. He told police that he “stopped to get McDonalds after leaving his girlfriend’s house and began drinking when he arrived at his residence.” Police determined that the motorcycle had been operating with switched license plates and no insurance, and it was towed away. The owner, a 28-year-old Mattituck man, was issued numerous traffic tickets, according to the report.
Around 2 p.m., police were called to a location on Main Rd. in East Marion, where a dispute between a resident and an UPS delivery driver about a missing package. According to the driver, the resident accused [the driver] of purposely skipping his residence and changing his delivery time,” and was “argumentative and rude.” Apparently the resident “needed the package by a certain time to meet his travel arrangements.” The package in question was successfully transferred from the driver to the resident “without incident,” according to a report.
Two kayaks, one broken bowl and a bent-out-of-shape bush
Around 4 p.m., an 82-year-old Southold woman called policeafter a neighbor moved two kayaks, a bicycle and boat bumpers onto her deck at Founders Village, allegedly breaking a decorative glass bowl and damaging a bush in the process. The woman told officers the items had been moved from a grassy area behind her residence to accommodate a tree-trimming crew. The neighbor, 80, told police he had previously asked the 82-year-old to move the items from community property and was unaware that anything had been damaged. Officers determined that a kayak had temporarily bent a bush, which returned to its original shape when the kayak was removed. Police advised the 82-year-old that the broken bowl was a civil matter because the damage appeared unintentional and that any claim involving the bush should be brought before the Founders Village board. No criminal charges were filed.
Around 6:30 p.m., a 70-year-old Riverhead man requested Southold police assistance on Front St. in Greenport. The Riverhead man “was observed to be intoxicated” and requested transport to a local hospital.
An impatient patient
At about 7:30 p.m., a 44-year-old Coram man walked out of a Greenport hospital after becoming frustrated with the wait for admission to its detox unit, according to a police report. The Corman man had been transferred from Stony Brook University Hospital for detox treatment but was placed in the emergency room because of his level of intoxication. Upset over the delay, he left the hospital. Responding officers found him in the rear parking lot, where he agreed to return for treatment without further incident.
Around 1:30 p.m., a Skunk Lane resident arrived at police headquarters to report a series of suspicious letters in the mail. The resident told police that on five occasions since September, he had received mail containing photographs of his family, which he said he believes were obtained from his daughter’s Facebook page. The resident has also initiated a case with the US Postal Inspection Service, which requested a police report.
Oct. 29 – Around 8 a.m., police were called to a motel on Silvermere Road in Greenport West, where an owner of the property asked for police assistance in ejecting a 61-year-old local man who was camping in a tent on the property. A notice of trespass was signed against the 61-year-old, meaning he could be arrested if he returns to the location.
Around noon, police were called to South St. in Greenport, for a report of a 62-year-old man Greenport man, well-known to local police, who was allegedly panhandling. The man was located and advised to cease his activities.
Around 3:45 p.m., a Main St. resident in Greenport reported that her bicycle had been stolen. Police canvassed the area without locating the bike.
Private beach, public paws
Around 4:30 p.m., police were called to North Parish Dr. in Southold for a report of a local man cutting through private property to reach a private beach with his two dogs. Police advised the man, a 74-year-old from Southold, that he is not permitted to access private property, and he agreed not to do so anymore.
At about 6:45 p.m., police were called to a location near the corner of Lighthouse Rd. and Soundview Ave. in Southold for a report of “teenaged girls screaming” in the area. Police canvassed the area without hearing or locating any teenaged girls.
A ‘stolen’ bike and a silent snitch
Oct. 30 – Around 12:30 a.m., police heard from an “anonymous caller” reporting that their bike was stolen, and naming a 36-year-old Greenport man as the alleged thief. Police located the man, who said he had borrowed the bike in question from a friend and that it was not stolen. Police made multiple attempts to contact the original caller, who, according to a police report, was “uncooperative and would not identify themselves.” No further action was taken.
Lights, camera, code violation!
At about 11:30 a.m., police received a report of a possible town code violation in the form of a film crew of five or more people filming on the beach off Second St. in New Suffolk. Responding officers found ten people packing away film equipment in the parking lot. A 33-year-old New Suffolk man was “extremely apologetic” and said he wasn’t aware that a permit was required. He said he was “filming a short clip of the beach for an independent project.” He assured police it would not happen again.
A sniffle and a swerve
Around noon, police were called to a location near the corner of Cox Lane and Middle Road in Cutchogue for a report of a vehicle failing to maintain its lane of travel. A responding officer interviewed a 65-year-old Wrentham, N.Y. woman, who “stated that she had a sneezing fit.” The woman showed no signs of impairment, according to a police report.
Teen party runs out of gas in Cutchogue
Around 11:15 p.m., a gathering of teenagers at a Cutchogue home prompted a police and fire department response after an unknown partygoer turned on an outdoor gas grill next to the house, causing the smell of gas inside the residence, according to a police report. The Cutchogue Fire Department responded to the home on New Suffolk Avenue but detected no gas inside. All the teenagers left without incident after being told to leave. Police contacted the mother of the 17-year-old hosting the gathering, who said she knew her son was having a few friends over but was unaware of the size of the party. She told officers she was returning home to speak with him about the incident.
A midnight high school ‘lockdown’
Soon after midnight, an automated lockdown alarm sounding at Mattituck High School prompted a police response after an anonymous caller reported hearing it. Responding officers found no signs of forced entry, criminal activity or an active threat. Police notified the school principal who contacted the district’s grounds and facilities department. A custodial staff member responded to the school, where consultation with the IT department determined that a technical hardware or software issue had triggered the false alarm. Police noted that the department had not been directly notified of the activation by the alarm company.
Oct. 31 – Shortly after midnight, police were called to a parking lot on North Sea Dr. in Southold, for a report of a pickup truck “doing doughnuts” and driving fast at the location. Responding officers located a pickup truck in the parking lot. The driver told cops “he had just pulled into the parking lot and was listening to music.”
Michael Meyers comes to dinner
Around 8 p.m., police were called to a restaurant at the southern end of Main St. for a report of an unknown male, “dressed in a Michael Meyers” [the primary antagonist in the horror film ‘Halloween’] costume, staring through the restaurant windows, causing customers to become frightened.” When the costumed individual entered the restaurant, he was asked to leave, according to a police report. Police canvassed the area but were unable to locate anyone dressed as Michael Meyers. Restaurant employees were advised to contact police again if the individual reappears.
At about 8:45 p.m., police were called to Woodcliff Dr. in Mattituck for a report of a group of youths “ding dong ditching” residences on the street. Police spoke to several groups of youths, advising them against the practice, and each group agreed, according to a police report.
Nov. 1 – Around 8:15 a.m., police were called to a residence on Clearview Ave. in Southold for a report of “profanities written with shaving cream.” A detective was notified and the area was canvassed for security cameras.
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.
