Southold Town Police are investigating a group assault that left one person injured Wednesday night in Greenport’s Adams Street municipal parking lot, an area that has long been a source of complaints from nearby residents and business owners.
Police Chief Steve Grattan said officers responded after witnesses reported a physical altercation involving multiple people in the parking lot. Officers separated those involved and detectives later arrived to gather statements and collect video evidence from witnesses and nearby surveillance cameras.
“It appears there was a confrontation between a group and one individual that led to the physical altercation,” Grattan said in an interview Thursday morning.
According to Grattan, the incident appears to have been premeditated. Investigators learned that one of the individuals involved received a phone call warning that a group was waiting in the area and intended to attack him.
While one person was transported to a hospital in a private vehicle, no arrests have been made as detectives continue reviewing evidence and attempting to determine who initiated the fight.
“There were multiple combatants,” Grattan said. “There were allegations from both sides that it was self-defense.”
Police recovered a baseball bat and a skateboard tool from the scene, though Grattan said investigators have not determined whether either object was used during the altercation.
The chief said the individuals involved are known to police but are not part of the group typically associated with recurring problems in the Adams Street parking lots. The incident involved a mix of adults and juveniles, he added.
The investigation remains active, and Grattan said arrests could follow once detectives complete their review of witness statements and video footage.
The fight comes more than a year after village officials, residents and business owners renewed concerns about chronic disorder in and around the Adams Street parking lots. During a series of public meetings in 2025, residents complained about frequent loitering, public drinking, fights, littering, late-night noise and other quality-of-life issues in the area. Local business owners also voiced frustration over recurring disturbances, prompting increased police patrols and discussions about additional enforcement measures.
While police say Wednesday night’s altercation involved a different group, the incident is likely to renew scrutiny of a location that has long been viewed as one of Greenport’s most persistent public-safety trouble spots.