JAMESPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT COURTESY PHOTO | A motorcycle burst into flames Friday, the second incident in a busy week for the volunteers.

The summer season is just a month away but the Jamesport Fire Department was already hard at work this week as three separate fires sparked across the district in just under a week, fire officials said.

Firefighters got the call of the first fire Wednesday about 2:35 p.m. for an outside fire on Tuthills Lane in Aquebogue. Fire crews arrived at the street to find a “large pile of hay bales” on fire, fire officials said. The fire had already spread to a nearby wooden fence that surrounded the hay bales, but firefighters used two fire engines to put out the flames and prevent the fire from spreading.

JAMESPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT COURTESY PHOTO | Firefighters extinguish a rekindled bonfire on Saturday.

Two days later, Jamesport firefighters were called to the scene of a motorcycle accident at Sound Avenue and Herricks Lane in Jamesport, officials said. A motorcycle was lying in the middle of the road and had burst into flames.

Riverhead Town police said the driver of the 2011 Kawasaki motorcycle, a 19-year-old man from Cutchogue, lost control of the vehicle about 7:35 p.m. and dumped the motorcycle before it caught fire.

A fire engine arrived on scene and put out the fire while fire police and Riverhead police closed the road.

The teen was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of a hand injury, police said.

The next day on Saturday, Jamesport firefighters were called to a second outside fire on state park property adjacent to the Hallockville Museum Farm. Volunteers used two fire engines and an off-road vehicle to quickly extinguish the fire.

Fire officials said the fire “appeared to have been a large unattended bonfire which had rekindled.”

Jamesport Fire Chief Duffy Griffiths said residents should take extra precautions as the summer season approaches to conduct outside activities safely.

psquire@timesreview.com

A pickup truck caught fire on Route 58 near Ostrander Avenue shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, police and fire officials said.

The driver was unharmed and the fire was the result of a mechanical failure, police said.

The incident occurred just outside the Peconic Bay Diner.

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | Riverhead police arrest Nathan Streit outside the home on Osborn Avenue where he had been hiding for several hours after a confrontation that led to a shooting on nearby Marcy Avenue.

Three hours after shotgun blasts sent shockwaves through Polish Town and a Riverhead woman to the hospital, Riverhead and New York State police used a K9 to capture the teenager they say pulled the trigger.

Nathan Streit, 17, who police say is homeless, was found hiding inside a Osborn Avenue house about 11:30 p.m. Monday.

Hours earlier, Mr. Streit had fired several rounds at Jon Gallo, 26, and Shane Sypher, 25, both of Riverhead following a confrontation on nearby Raynor Avenue, police said. While neither man was struck by any of the shots, pellets from one round did cause minor injuries to Mr. Gallo’s mother, Sharon, 52.

Mr. Gallo told a News-Review reporter Monday night that he had confronted Mr. Streit and another young man over a series of break-ins in the area.

“Next thing I know, he comes back with a gun and he’s [expletive] shooting,” Mr. Gallo said.

The gunman then fled on foot, Mr. Gallo said.

Police quickly responded to the home on Osborn Avenue where they later found Mr. Streit, frequently shining a flashlight at an open second story window and questioning two men and a woman sitting outside the home.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., several state troopers and Riverhead police officers and detectives wearing bullet proof vests, surrounded the house while a police dog and several more officers searched the interior for the shooter.

Mr. Streit was quickly apprehended without resistance, police said. He was charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. He was held overnight for a Tuesday morning arraignment.

Ms. Gallo was treated at Peconic Bay Medical Center for what police described as non-life threatening injuries.

Check back for more details later this morning.

gparpan@timesreview.com

CARRIE MILLER PHOTO | Police investigate an armed robbery scene in Polish Town Monday night.

UPDATE (2:15 p.m.): The 33-year-old Riverhead man who allegedly attempted to rob an Osborn Avenue store Monday night faced a judge this afternoon, answering to two felony charges.

Nicholas Savino is charged with two counts of second-degree robbery after displaying what appeared to be a handgun at International Connection and demanding money about 8:45 p.m., police said.

Mr. Savino hit a store worker several times in the head, causing lacerations to the man’s face, prosecutors said during his arraignment in Riverhead Town court.

The worker was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, according to a release.

Two other workers subdued Mr. Savino until police arrived, prosecutors said in court. Visible cuts could be seen around Mr. Savino’s neck and face while in court this afternoon.

Justice Richard Ehlers granted an order of protection for the store workers involved in the incident.

Procesuters said Mr. Savino has been convicted of one felony and eight misdemeanors prior to the incident.

He also failed to appear in court on four separate occasions, prosecutors said.

Mr. Savino is being held on $300,000 bail.

Original Story: Less than 30 minutes after a shooting sent a Polish Town woman to a hospital Monday night, three employees at a store on nearby Osborn Avenue wrestled an armed robber to the ground in an unrelated incident.

Nicholas Savino, 33, of Riverhead displayed a handgun as he entered International Connection and demanded money of three employees there at about 8:45 p.m., police said. The three men quickly fought him off and held him down until police could arrive.

It was later learned the gun Mr. Savino used in the robbery was actually a BB pistol, police said.

Mr. Savino and one of the employees were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries from the scuffle, police said.

A worker at the store, who did not give a name Monday night, said, “I’m just happy everyone is safe and we could all go home with our lives tonight.”

Mr. Savino is being held at police headquarters on two counts of second-degree robbery, police said. He is expected to be arraigned later Tuesday morning. He was previously arrested last February on a warrant related to a charge of petit larceny.

gparpan@timesreview.com

Riverhead Police sent out a warning on Friday that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s “DWI task Force” would be setting up checkpoints in town over the Memorial Day weekend, but seven people were still arrested at those checkpoints Saturday night.

Arrested Saturday night at checkpoints in Riverhead Town were the following: Francisco Sabin, 36, of Sound Avenue in Riverhead, for DWI; Pedro Garcia, 30, of Front Street in Greenport, for DWI; Peter Helsinki, 18, of Middle Road in Cutchogue, for driving under the influence of drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana; Matthew Larson, 35, of Town Harbor Lane in Southold, for DWI; Shane Hands, 20, of Hillcrest Drive in Orient, for driving under the influence of drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana; James Hinch, 37, of Sweetbury Hill in Center Moriches, for DWI; and Alisa Raspanjini, 30, of Quaker Hill Path in Huntington, for driving while ability impaired.

Police say additional enforcement actions of this type can be expected in the future.

The Task Force was established by District Attorney Tom Spota last year and consists of officers from departments in the Riverhead Town, Southold Town, Shelter Island Town, Suffolk County, and New York State police departments.

BETH YOUNG COURTESY PHOTO | A Riverhead Town police officer attends to a motorcycle crash victim at the corner of Main Street and Roanoke Avenue

A motorcyclist was sent to Peconic Bay Medical Center after a collision with a Honda Accord at the corner of Main Street and Roanoke Avenue in downtown Riverhead Wednesday morning, Riverhead Town Police said.

The man was riding a black ZX-14 Kawasaki motorcycle west on East Main Street when he struck the passenger side of the sedan as the driver attempted to make a left onto Roanoke Avenue shortly before 9 a.m., police said.

The woman who was driving the Accord and her adult son reported no injuries at the scene, police said. The extent of the motorcyclists injuries were unknown, though police said he was moving his arms and legs.

“He took a pretty good hit,” said officer Michael Lombardo.

A portion of Roanoke Avenue remained closed until 9:30 a.m. as police cleared the crash scene.

psquire@timesreview.com

JOHN MEDINA

The Mastic man who allegedly threatened to hurt himself and others Tuesday at Tanger Outlets contacted an acquaintance who alerted police to the man’s threats, Riverhead Town police said Wednesday.

Riverhead Detective Sgt. Joseph Loggia said John Medina, 32, voluntarily gave himself up to police when he was approached at the shopping center and told police he “knew what he was feeling was wrong.”

“He’s a veteran who has some issues,” Sgt. Loggia said. “He’s definitely struggling.”

Police were called to the Route 58 shopping complex about 12:45 p.m. and found Mr. Medina at the Tanger Outlet II food court.

Mr. Medina told police he had a machete in his backpack at the time. Mr. Medina told responding officers he wanted to hurt others and hurt himself, police said Tuesday night.

The man never took the machete out of his backpack, Sgt. Loggia said.

Mr. Medina, who works at the Levi’s outlet store in the shopping center, contacted an acquaintance and explained he was having disturbed thoughts, Sgt. Loggia siad. The acquaintance then called the police to alert them to Mr. Medina’s condition.

Mr. Medina was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, a Class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, and a misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapons charge, police said.

He was arraigned in Justice Court and is being held at the county jail.

“We are thankful that no one was hurt,” said Janine Nebons, the Riverhead outlet center’s general manager. “The incident is under police investigation. We appreciate your patience while the police investigation is underway.”

JENNIFER GUSTAVSON PHOTO | Joseph Plummer is led into Riverhead Town Justice Court before his arraignment in January. He has since pleaded guilty to hitting a man with his car and fleeing the scene.

The Middle Island man arrested in connection with a December hit and run in downtown Riverhead that killed a Brookhaven man celebrating his birthday has pleaded guilty to the felony charge against him, according to court records.

Joseph Plummer, 49, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving the death of a pedestrian, a class “D” felony, during a appearance in Suffolk County criminal court Monday.

The felony carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Mr. Plummer’s attorney, Harmon Lutzer, said his client was not offered a plea deal, and will accept what sentence judge Mark Cohen orders.

“It’s a tough case, and it’s a tragic circumstance,” Mr. Lutzer said. “It’s basically the totality of the circumstances [that caused him to plead guilty.] … Quite frankly, I don’t think he had a choice.”

Mr. Lutzer said a desire to answer questions about the crime may also have motivated his client to admit to the hit and run.

The victim in the crash, Scott Wyte, was celebrating his 50th birthday with family on Dec. 28 when he was struck by Mr. Plummer while trying to cross East Main Street.

Prosecutors said Mr. Plummer was traveling home from working on a pool in Aquebogue at the time of the incident and had been drinking vodka on the day of the crash since the morning from a Poland Spring water bottle; because he wasn’t apprehended until several days later, authorities couldn’t prove he was drunk at the time of the crash,

Mr. Wyte was knocked into the opposite lane where he was struck by a second car. While the driver of the second vehicle stopped to help Mr. Wyte, Mr. Plummer fled the scene and drove 10 miles to a gas station despite severe damage to his car’s windshield, said District Attorney Thomas Spota in a January press conference on the case.

Mr. Plummer contacted his boss, who owned the car involved in the incident. The two first planned to report the car stolen and take the insurance money before deciding to claim the car was damaged when it struck a tree, Mr. Spota said.

The two had splinters of wood they were planning to plant on the car to back up their claim and had covered the damaged car with a tarp until they could go through with their plan, Mr. Spota said.

Mr. Plummer was arrested two days later after a witness saw the hidden car and contacted police. Mr. Plummer’s boss cooperated with authorities was not charged with a crime.

Mr. Plummer had been previously convicted of two felonies, prosecutors said. He is being held at the Suffolk County correctional facility and will be sentenced on July 10.

psquire@timesreview.com

GOOGLE MAPS PHOTO | Two robberies were reported in the Milbrook Gables neighborhood Saturday morning.

Two men reported being robbed in the Milbrook Gables neighborhood of Riverhead in separate incidents involving a gun and a knife about five hours apart Sunday morning, town police said.

Police are investigating the incidents and could not say if they are related.

The first robbery occurred on Melene Street about 4:25 a.m., when a man was walking along the street, police said. The 47-year-old victim said he was approached from behind by a man who pulled out a handgun and demanded cash, according to a police report.

The robbery victim refused to give him any money, and the would-be robber fled the scene, police said.

About five hours later, another man reported being robbed on Carls Place about a block away from the first robbery, police said. Police said the man was threatened with a knife about 9:30 a.m., but could not provide any further details.

Police Detective Sgt. Joseph Loggia said the second victim has since traveled to Connecticut and police were arranging to interview him about the alleged crime this week.

He said detectives are investigating both robberies, and had not made any determinations about whether the robberies are linked or not.

“We don’t know at this point,” Sgt. Loggia said. “We’re working on both.”

psquire@timesreview.com

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | The driver of this Toyota Tercel walked away from a rollover crash on County Road 105 Tuesday afternoon.

A woman walked away unharmed after her car flipped into the median on County Road 105 Tuesday afternoon, Riverhead Town police said.

The woman was driving southbound about 3:40 p.m. in a red Toyota Tercel when she overturned the vehicle into the median of the road, police at the scene said.

Riverhead ambulance crews were called to the crash scene, but the woman suffered no injuries and declined further medical attention.

Police closed the left lane of the road while the woman’s car was removed from the median.

PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | The new language hotline at the Riverhead Police Department’s front desk will make it easier for police and residents to communicate, town officials said.

A new translation hotline at the Riverhead Police Department is making it easier for non-English speakers to get help, and for police officers to learn about tips and other important information faster.

The phone was installed Tuesday and uses a round-the-clock language hotline to clear up communication between police at the front desk and people who don’t speak English who need assistance, said Riverhead police Captain Robert Smith.

“I think it helps us to communicate accurately and effectively,” he said.

The language hotline phone — known as a Limited English Proficiency device — is the first of its kind among local police departments on the North Fork, Captain Smith said.

A similar system is in use by Suffolk County police at their precincts and was the inspiration for Riverhead’s program.

“I saw they were using it and I liked it,” Captain Smith said. “We came to the realization, maybe we should use them at the window … We’re always looking for new ways [to improve].”

The system works by having the non-English speaker pick up the black phone labeled “Telefono Ingles Limitado” (Limited English Phone) next to the counter at the front desk. The officer behind the desk will immediately be put on the line and can then call the language hotline, which offers “any language” the complainant is fluent in, Captain Smith said.

A translator from the hotline, the police officer at the desk and the person who needs help will then be set up on a three-way conference call that lets the desk officer speak to the non-English speaker through the translator in real time.

The phone is ready for use now, Captain Smith said.

The police department already had access to the language line, and used it to speak with suspects or victims in emergency situations.

But Captain Smith said adding a line to the front desk will make it easier for residents who speak languages other than English to get help fast or file reports.

“We just recognized the importance of communication between us and the people in the community that aren’t proficient in English,” he said.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, who is also the town’s police commissioner, called the translation system a progressive new step that will clear up issues the department had when talking with complainants who couldn’t speak English.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said. “Captain Smith spearheaded that so kudos to him.”

Since the police department already had access to the hotline, the new phone won’t cost the town anything extra, Mr. Walter said.

Sister Margaret Smyth, the executive director of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate in Riverhead, said she was thrilled to learn of the department’s new system.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing,” she said. “The simple thing of asking correctly for a police report becomes complicated when you can’t say it exactly right.”

Sister Margaret said it’s not just Spanish-speaker who will use the phone, but anyone who is more comfortable in a different language.

“It’s not just Hispanics,” she said. “Riverhead is a diverse population with people from Poland, Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, Italy.

Anybody who before would say, ‘I can’t go to the police because I can’t talk to them’ will now be able to talk to them in their language.”

Sister Margaret has see people walk into her office on Roanoke Avenue and ask for help because they didn’t know how to go to the police for assistance or to report a crime had occurred.

A domestic violence victim, she explained, will now be able to accurately describe what happened to police, letting them catch the culprit and prevent further crime.

She said the initiative will also increase trust between minority populations and the police department, adding that the phone will “open the doors and allows more communication to take place.”

“It’ll set an example for all the police departments,” she said.

Sister Margaret said the language hotline will benefit those who speak English as well, because police will be able to learn more from minority populations that will allow them to better police the entire town.

“The person who’s coming in could be reporting something in your neck of the woods that could affect you,” she said. “Whatever anybody reports that could help the community helps everybody in the community.”

psquire@timesreview.com

TIM GANNON PHOTO | A pair of friends was rescued off Hulse Landing Beach in Wading River Sunday afternoon.

The Wading River Fire Department’s water rescue team rescued two people almost a mile off Hulse Landing beach in the Long Island Sound Sunday afternoon.

A woman sailboarder who entered the water in Shoreham was beginning to struggle on the sailboard, and her male friend swam out to help her.

The man, who declined to give his name to a reporter, as did the woman, said he was swimming for about 45 minutes before he finally reached her and told her to hang onto the board while he pulled her to shore. He said he used to be a lifeguard and is a strong swimmer.

Police at the scene said the sailboard was about three quarters of a mile out to sea in the Long Island Sound. A Riverhead Town police officer on a four-wheel drive beach vehicle was alerted by people on the beach, who said the couple appeared to be struggling.

The Wading River Fire Department got the call at about 4 p.m. and initially called for mutual aid from the Riverhead and Rocky Point fire department’s water rescue teams, as well, but they canceled the request after they quickly located the pair in the water. A Suffolk County Police rescue boat also responded.

The pair was safely brought to shore by the Wading River Fire Department boat and both were uninjured and did not need medical attention.  The woman told police she had been in the water since 11 a.m.

The man told a reporter the rescue team “did a great job.”

tgannon@timereview.com

JENNIFER GUSTAVSON PHOTO | Police are searching for a black SUV involved in a crash in Calverton Sunday morning.

Riverhead Town police are searching for a black SUV involved in a hit-and-run crash on Route 25 in Calverton around noon Sunday, police said.

The three-vehicle accident, which occurred near J&R’s Steakhouse, led to two passengers on a Hyundai sedan being transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

While the driver of the Hyundai and the driver of a Jeep stopped at the scene of the crash, police said the driver of the black SUV fled the scene.

Police believe the rear passenger side of the SUV is damaged.

Anyone with information is asked to call Riverhead Town police at 727-4500.

jennifer@timesreview.com

CYNDI MURRAY PHOTO | Riverhead fire officials were battling a house fire on Sound Shore Road in Riverhead Sunday evening.

Riverhead firefighters extinguished a house fire on Sound Shore Road in Riverhead Sunday evening, according to a spokesperson with the Riverhead Fire Department.

The emergency call on the electrical fire came in shortly after 5 p.m., Riverhead FD public information officer Bill Sanok said.

At least two people were inside of the house, which is set back from the road, at the time of the fire, Mr. Sanok said. No injuries were reported and the house sustained minimal damage, he said.

LIPA was contacted and a town fire marshal was on his way to investigate the fire as of 5:20 p.m.

CYNDI MURRAY PHOTO | Two engines ere called to the scene of a house fire on Sound Shore Road in Riverhead Sunday evening.

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Dirt bikes were stolen from Windy Acres Farm earlier this week.

Three dirt bikes and an all-terrain vehicle valued around $10,000 were stolen from Windy Acres Farms in Calverton early this week, Riverhead Town Police said.

Sometime between 8:30 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Tuesday, the front door to a barn on the farm property was forced open and the vehicles were removed, police said.

Three red Honda dirt bikes and a red Honda quad were stolen, police said.

Riverhead detectives are investigating.

A man strolled out of Stop & Shop Tuesday night without paying for a shopping cart full of meat, Riverhead Town Police said.

The man left the store with about $800 worth of meat around 7 p.m., according to a report. He loaded the items into a gray vehicle and left, police said.

Stop & Shop employees said they were unable to get a clear image of the man or the vehicle from the store’s security footage, according to a report.

It was unclear what type of meat was stolen.

Five drivers were arrested for driving drunk in Riverhead Saturday and one more was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, according to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s East End DWI Task Force.

The task force effort was conducted by officers from the Riverhead, Westhampton Beach and Quogue Village police departments, who seized two vehicles in the operation.

Police said the following East End residents were arrested and charged with DWI:

Nelson Avelar, 33, of Riverhead, who was also charged with an interlock device violation and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Tranquilino Chamale, 35, of Aquebogue

Rogelio Boch, 27, of Riverhead

Richard Kruedelbach, 53, of Southampton

Otto Rac-Subuyuj, 29, of Water Mill

Shamir Euceda, 23, of Hampton Bays was the driver charged with DWAI Drugs.

TIM GANNON FILE PHOTO | Puppy Experience owner Scott Kaphan in 2006.

A local pet store owner died in a Riverhead motel room Saturday morning after he was found not breathing, Riverhead Town police said.

Police said the man’s death “does not appear to be suspicious,” according to a press release issued Monday afternoon.

A man tried to wake Scott Kaphan, 42, of Hampton Bays in a room at the Swiss Motel on West Main Street about 11:09 a.m. when he found Mr. Kaphan was not breathing, according to a police report.

The man called 911 and a police officer who arrived on the scene found Mr. Kaphan — the owner of the Puppy Experience on Main Road in Aquebogue — was unresponsive and had no pulse, the release states.

Police said resuscitation efforts “were not warranted,” and Mr. Kaphan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Riverhead detectives and the Suffolk County Medical Examiners Office investigated the scene and took Mr. Kaphan’s body to be autopsied.

His cause of death is unknown at this time and the investigation is ongoing, police said.

An employee at the Swiss Motel declined comment Monday afternoon.

psquire@timesreview.com

Alleged drunken drivers kept Riverhead Town police busy this past week, as eight people were arrested for driving while intoxicated, according to reports.

Last Sunday, July 28, Carol Mason, 31, of Wading River, was arrested for aggravated DWI after getting into a car accident on Wading River Manorville Road about 2 p.m., Riverhead Town police said.

Then on Wednesday, Dennis Tinnin, age and hometown unavailable, was arrested for DWI about 10:30 p.m. on Middle Road in Riverhead, police said.

A 54-year-old Brookhaven woman was arrested Friday after police received a 911 call reporting an erratic driver, according to a police report. Celina Matusewicz was arrested for aggravated DWI after she was seen driving on the shoulder of Route 58 about 9:45 p.m., police said.

On Saturday, Louis Evers, 53, of Flanders was arrested for DWI after allegedly speeding by the intersection of Cross River Drive and Riverside Drive in Riverhead, police said.

A few hours later on Saturday, Carlos Rodriguez-Cruz, 25, of Riverhead, was arrested about 3:30 a.m. after failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Lewis Street and Segal Avenue, police said. Mr. Rodriguez-Cruz was arrested for DWI and charged with other violations, according to a report.

Two men were arrested on Sunday morning for DWI in two separate incidents involving car accidents, according to police reports. John Simpson, 26, of Riverhead was arrested after a crash about 2:20 a.m. on Sound Avenue, police said. Almost a half-hour later, Sergio Ruben Osorio, also 26, of Greenport was arrested for aggravated DWI after crashing a red Mazda on Route 58. That crash happened at 2:45 a.m., police said.

Mr. Osorio was charged with aggravated DWI, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle along with other violations, according to a report. Additional information on the crashes was not immediately available.

Ismain Velazquez-Hernandez, 29, of Riverhead, was stopped by police on Segal Avenue about 1 a.m. Monday after failing to use a turning signal, according to a police report. He was arrested for DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, police said. He also has a prior DWI conviction, according to a report.

JERRY DONAHUE COURTESY PHOTO | Monday’s nights crash scene on Main Road in Aquebogue.

A 34-year-old Southold man was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing a work truck into a telephone pole in Aquebogue Monday night, police said.

Mario Chacon was traveling eastbound on Main Road, just west of Edgar Avenue, when he crashed into the telephone pole, breaking it in two, police said.

Mr. Chacon was charged with DWI and arraigned Tuesday morning in Justice Court.