Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Riverhead Police Officer Timothy Murphy and Chief David Hegermiller (Credit: Courtesy photo)

How many driving while intoxicated arrests does it take to be the “top cop” in Suffolk County? Riverhead police officer Timothy Murphy can tell you: exactly 118.

Mr. Murphy, who was named one of the top DWI officers in 2012, was again honored as the county’s top DWI cop during a ceremony that recognized 23 officers from across the county for their arrests. 

This year’s award marks the third time since 2010 that Mr. Murphy has earned the honor and continues a streak of more than a decade near the top of county-wide DWI arrests.

Mr. Murphy’s arrests were among the 5,692 DWI arrests made in 2013 and more than 15,000 DWI arrests in the past three years.

“It is extremely important to us that motorists who are driving while intoxicated are stopped,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.  “DWI tragedies don’t just affect those involved, they impact the families of victims as well.”

In 2013, 51 people were killed in Suffolk County by the reckless behavior of drunk drivers as compared to 47 the previous year.  Although DWI fatalities have declined by 56 percent since 1979, Suffolk County recognizes that many challenges remain.

“Suffolk County will not tolerate drunk driving on our roadways,” Mr. Bellone said. “We remain committed to arresting anyone who chooses to drink and then get behind the wheel of a car, endangering the lives of others.”

The other officers honored were:

• Christopher Drake (Town of Shelter Island)
• Carl Schottenhamel (Town of Southampton)
• Rory Flatley (Town of Southold)
• Joseph Slack (Village of Amityville)
• Steven Niggles (Village of East Hampton)
• Micheael Gigante (Village of Northport)
• John Galvin (Village of Quogue)
• Sashley Jones (Village of Southampton)
• Steven McManus (Village of Westhampton)
• Vincent Rantinella (Town of East Hampton)
• Michael P. Grosso (New York State)
• Greg Sandbichler (Suffolk County Parks)
• Brian Rasiak (Suffolk County Sheriff)
• David Leath (SCPD 1st Precinct)
• Harry Jos (SCPD 2nd Precinct)
• Chris Anskat (SCPD 3rd Precinct)
• Doug Nassisi (SCPD 4th Precinct)
• Jamie Bustamante (SCPD 5th Precinct)
• Anthony Legotti (SCPD 6th Precinct)
• Brandon Neal (SCPD 7th Precinct)
• William Murray (SCPD Highway Patrol)
• Roger Kleber (SCPD SAFE-T Team)

A 24-year-old Riverhead man was arrested on a felony grand larceny charge after he stole items from a vehicle in Calverton early last Monday, county police said.

Aaron Hartmann reportedly removed a laptop, iPad, and sunglasses, together valued at more than $1,000, from a car that was parked on Cherry Street at about 4 a.m., authorities said.

Mr. Hartmann, who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in Flanders in May, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, according to a report. He was due back in court Wednesday.

• A 30-year-old Riverhead man was arrested on multiple charges Friday after he was found driving without a license with a passenger who had an order of protection against him — who also ended up being arrested, Southampton Village police said.

Fredy A. Perez, 30, was arrested and charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation about 4:30 a.m., according to a report.

Mr. Perez was later charged with second-degree criminal contempt after police found his passenger, Leida Jessica Leon-Vazquez, 29, of Hampton Bays, had an order of protection against him, authorities said.

Ms. Leon-Vazquez was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a felony, according to a report.

• Close to $1,000 worth of designer jeans were stolen from an outlet center store Sunday morning, police said.

Four pairs of jeans, valued at $245 apiece, were stolen from Giorgio Armani at Tanger Outlet Center about 10:45 a.m., according to a report.

Police said surveillance video show that a white woman with dark hair who was wearing flip flops, black pants, a blue shirt, and a black-and-white sweater removed the clothing, which was on hangers.

Detectives are investigating.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

A 25-year-old Riverhead man was arrested early Sunday morning after he was caught in possession of an opioid treatment drug without a prescription, Southampton Town police said. 

Tomasz Zalewski was found on Peconic Avenue in Riverside shortly after 2 a.m. with Suboxone outside of its original packaging, police said.

He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and released on an appearance ticket, police said.

Mr. Zalewski was arrested on drug possession charges earlier this month after he was found on Newton Avenue April 15 with heroin and crack cocaine hidden in the waist of his clothing, Riverhead Town Police said.

This photo of a purported 40 mm mortar shell had police evacuate Kent Animal Shelter Monday afternoon. (Credit: Courtesy photo)

A Calverton animal shelter was briefly evacuated Monday afternoon after an employee unwittingly brought a mortar shell he discovered while clamming over the weekend into the office. 

Pam Green, executive director of Kent Animal Shelter, said the staffer discovered the metal object while in the water, brought it home and cleaned it up. He came in Monday and showed it to the staff when one employee took a picture of the shell and texted it to her boyfriend, a National Guardsman, Ms. Green said.

The boyfriend told them to call the police: the metal object was a 40 millimeter unexploded mortar shell.

Riverhead Police Captain Richard Smith said the department arrived on the scene about 1 p.m. and cleared the building. Ms. Green rushed back from a meeting to find the building had already been evacuated; the animals were forced to remain in their kennels while emergency services removed the shell.

Ms. Green said she rushed in to get her dog, who was left behind in the office with the mortar shell.

“I wasn’t leaving without my dog,” she said.

Suffolk County Police Emergency Services took the shell to its facility in Westhampton to be disposed of, Captain Smith said. He added that it’s not unusual for residents to discover old ammunition.

“It’s happened in the past where people are digging in their yard, or doing some excavation and they come across something like this,” he said.

No one was arrested in the incident, and police had cleared the scene by 3:30 p.m.

“Thankfully no one was hurt,” Ms. Green said. “I need a new kennel but that’s not exactly the way I want to get it!”

psquire@timesreview.com

A 33-year-old Greenport woman was arrested after allegedly stealing over $2,000 worth of designer handbags from a Tanger Outlet store last Wednesday, Riverhead Town police said. 

Deanna Yoskovich was charged fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and resisting arrest, police said.

Police said witnesses at Saks Fifth Avenue outlet store identified Ms. Yoskovich, who stole pocketbooks valued at $2,300 from the store before fleeing the area in a beige sedan.

A 30-year-old unlicensed Riverhead man was arrested on aggravated drunken driving charges after it was found his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit, police said.

Octaviano Solano was driving southbound on Griffing Avenue before making a left onto West Main Street without using a signal, police said. After monitoring the vehicle for a short time, it was stopped on Old Quogue Road, according to a report.

Mr. Solano was arrested for aggravated DWI after a roadside sobriety test revealed his blood alcohol content was .22 percent, and for unlicensed operation of a vehicle, according to a report.

• Police arrested a 15-year-old on a felony sex offense charge last Thursday, according to a police report.

The teen was charged with committing a criminal sexual act in the second degree and was arraigned in Suffolk County Family Court, according to the report. Additional information was not immediately available.

• A 43-year-old Huntington man was arrested for drunken driving after getting into an accident at the intersection of Sound and Pier avenues last Tuesday, police said.

William McCarthy was arrested about 5:30 p.m. and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to a report.

• A Riverhead business owner said a former employee stole company checks and cashed them to collect over $40,000 from the company in March and April, police said.

The owner of a robotics company said a former employee stole three checks from a business checkbook, writing them out to himself and cashing them to collect $40,243, according to the police report.

Detectives are looking into the incident, though the owner has yet to file criminal charges.

cmiller@timesreview.com

Fellow bikers assist police and ambulance personnel on the scene of a two motorcycle crash on Sound Avenue in Riverhead Sunday afternoon. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

A motorcyclist was airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center after he was injured  in a two-motorcycle crash in Riverhead Sunday, Riverhead Town police said.

The motorcyclist, a male, was traveling east along Sound Avenue near Route 105 when he bumped into motorcycle of a man he was traveling with and lost control of his bike. The other man involved in the crash told police the injured victim appeared to be distracted by a car attempting to turn out of the Briermere Farms parking lot.

The man was treated for his injuries by Riverhead police and volunteer ambulance personnel, and eventually airlifted to Stony Brook, police said. The nature of his injuries was not immediately known.

A police boat returns to the shore after officers were unable to locate a sailboat that had issued a distress call Sunday afternoon. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing the search. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

A missing person report is being filed for the owner of a sailboat that made a distress call from the Long Island Sound Sunday afternoon, according to a Riverhead Town police press release.

Ciro Stellges, 59, of Selden was operating a 26-foot fiberglass sailboat named “MAC” when he called 911 at around 1 p.m. and told police his boat was “taking on water,” officials said. The sailboat was built in 1977 by C&C Yachts and its registration number is NY7059FR, police said.

It’s possible Mr. Stellges made the distress call while his boat was sinking near Wading River beach, police said. He had left from Mattituck earlier in the day and was heading to Port Washington, officials said.

The Riverhead Police Dive Rescue Team and Suffolk County Police Department Aviation and Marine units searched for the sailboat, officials said, and Jamesport and Wading River fire departments were on standby.

The boat was not found after a more than 60-minute police boat search of the water, officials said. The police search was finally called off shortly after 2 p.m., but the Coast Guard confirmed at 3:30 p.m. that it is “in the process of conducting a search.”

An officer from the Coast Guard station in New London, Conn. said its search is focused three miles off the shore between Jamesport and Mattituck. The Coast Guard is using two 45-foot boats and a helicopter to search for the missing sailboat, an officer confirmed at 5:30 p.m.

gparpan@timesreview.com

A group of U.S. Coast Guard members in Mattituck Inlet Monday morning with the body of the missing boater. (Credit: Joseph Pinciaro)

The U.S. Coast Guard recovered the body of a missing boater east of Mattituck Inlet Monday morning, one day after he was reported missing in the Long Island Sound, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Ciro Stellges, 59, of Selden was found at 8:10 a.m. after a search that covered more than 400 square miles.

The married father of four called police just after noon Sunday, saying his boat was taking on water three miles off the shore, police said. The 911 call was then used to estimate his position in the waters off Northville, but his body wasn’t discovered for another 19 hours.

A Coast Guard spokesperson said Mr. Stelleges was wearing a lifejacket.

Members of the Stellges family requested privacy from the media at their Selden home Monday afternoon. A family member said the family has set up an online fundraising page to help offset the funeral costs.

“Sadly, we are asking for a little help in the raising of funds for the funeral arrangements of Ciro Stellges,” they wrote. “A man whose priority in life was his family, he will always remain in the hearts of the many lives he touched.”

Ciro Stellges with his four children and a son-in-law. (Credit: Stellges family)

As of 8:30 p.m. Monday, the fundraiser has already raised more than $5,000.

Mr. Stellges had launched from Mattituck and was en route to Port Washington Sunday, operating a 26-foot fiberglass sailboat named “MAC,” police said.

The Riverhead Police Dive Rescue Team and Suffolk County Police Department Aviation and Marine units initially searched for the sailboat in an area near Iron Pier Beach, Riverhead police Lt. David Lessard said.

“It was difficult sea conditions,” Lt. Lessard said. “Three- to four-foot seas, whitecaps all over.”

More than two hours into the local search, the Coast Guard took over operations, he said.

A missing persons report was filed Sunday, and a Coast Guard spokesperson said two 45-foot boats and a helicopter were used to search for the missing sailboat. The search continued overnight as the Jamesport and Wading River fire departments were on standby, officials said,

After discovering the body, members of the U.S. Coast Guard boated into Mattituck Inlet shortly before 10 a.m. Monday, meeting members of the Southold and Riverhead police departments at a DEC boat launch ramp in the inlet.

Police officers taped off the area and blocked off public access.

Police were also on scene at Breakwater Beach and Mattituck Inlet Marina on Monday morning.

A police boat returns to the shore after officers were unable to locate a sailboat that had issued a distress call Sunday afternoon. The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing the search. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

Marina owner Jim Pape said Sunday’s conditions made sailing on the Sound — particularly the south side of the Sound — very difficult.

“Yesterday was not a nice day,” he said. Mr. Pape added that on days with a north wind, sailing near the Connecticut coast is preferable, whereas when a southern wind is blowing, sailing across the Long Island coast is easier.

Sunday’s winds were blowing from the northwest.

The National Weather Service issued a small craft advisory from Sunday through 11 a.m. Monday to alert boaters of the conditions. Mr. Pape said winds over 10 knots make sailing difficult on the Sound; gusts of up to 30 to 35 knots blew on Sunday, he said.

“Our thoughts are with [Mr. Stellges' family and friends] in their time of grief,” said Commanding Officer of sector Long Island Sound, Capt. Edward Cubanski. “We appreciate the support of local port partners in our aggressive search and rescue efforts. Response crews worked tirelessly and covered an enormous search area to locate Mr. Stellges.”

gparpan@timesreview.com

A possible hand grenade discovered near the Peconic River in Calverton Wednesday night was removed by the Suffolk County Police Department’s bomb squad for further investigation, Riverhead Town police said. 

Riverhead police received a report about 6:26 p.m. of what appeared to be a hand grenade located on River Road. Officers responded and secured the area before the bomb squad removed the item.

No charges were immediately filed.

A foot pursuit led to the arrest of a 47-year-old Bridgehampton man after residents witnessed him attempting to steal from a car in the Peconic riverfront parking lot Thursday afternoon, Riverhead Town police said.

Witnesses saw a man searching through a vehicle about 2:30 p.m. and notified the car’s owner who was nearby, according to a report.

The owner headed back to the car and saw a man later identified as Brian Jenkins walking away, police said.

Police said the owner and a relative chased Mr. Jenkins on foot, catching him on Main Street, where they held him until a police unit arrived.

Mr. Jenkins was charged with attempted petit larceny, a misdemeanor, police said.

A 27-year-old unlicensed Riverhead man was arrested on a drug charge Tuesday evening after police received a noise complaint, Riverhead Town police said.

Police received a complaint about loud music coming from a vehicle about 11:15 p.m. on Lewis Street, according to a report. While interviewing the car’s owner, William Brown, an officer noticed a black digital scale in the pocket of the door, according to a report.

Mr. Brown was charged with third-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of marijuana, along with other violations, authorities said.

The scale, which had visible white powder reside, was confiscated and sent to a crime lab for further testing, according to a report.

Willie Blackmon mug shot (Credit: Southold Town Police Department)

An 88-year-old Riverhead man previously arrested after a Snickers candy burglary in Mattituck in March was arrested again last Wednesday for drunken driving on East Main Street, according to court papers.

Willie Blackmon was stopped near the intersection of Millbrook Lane after he cut off a police officer while driving a 1992 Cadillac about 6 p.m., court documents state. Mr. Blackmon failed to “maintain [his] lane of travel” and was pulled over, according to court papers.

Police said Mr. Blackmon’s eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred. He staggered out of the car and “appeared to have a difficult time maintaining his balance,” according to the court filings. He had a blood alcohol content of .14 percent and was arrested at the scene, police said.

Police later discovered his vehicle had not been inspected. He was charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated and several traffic violations, a court clerk said. Mr. Blackmon was arraigned the next morning and released without bail.

Mr. Blackmon was one of two people arrested after police reportedly found a loaded revolver in his car after catching them allegedly casing a neighborhood in Mattituck. That case is still pending.

psquire@timesreview.com

A patient at Peconic Bay Medical Center told police he was stabbed in the hand during a fight outside the Royal Dorado Bar on East Main Street early Sunday morning, according to a Riverhead Town police press release. 

Police were called shortly after 5 a.m. by emergency room personnel after the man left the scene of the scuffle and drove himself to the hospital for treatment.

The victim said he was attacked by three men in the parking lot at 1005 East Main Street before bar patrons intervened and stopped the fight. The man was stabbed in the hand with a knife during the fight, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call detectives at 727-4500.

Seth Wassenaar is led into Riverhead Town court for his arraignment on a felony sex act charge Monday morning (Credit: Paul Squire)

A 17-year-old accused of committing a felony sex act against another male teen at the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch was released on $2,500 bail after pleading not guilty at his arraignment in Riverhead Town court Monday. 

The teen’s lawyer, Brian Francese from Legal Aid, strongly disputed the charges, saying his client was innocent and that the authorities’ case wasn’t as strong as they initially stated.

Seth Wassenaar — who has been living at the ranch for three weeks — was charged with felony criminal sex act and endangering the welfare of a child after an incident Sunday, according to Riverhead police.

Court papers allege that Mr. Wassenaar pushed his 16-year-old victim into a bathroom at the Arnold House at the ranch and sodomized him about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Police said they received a call from the ranch about 9:20 p.m. Sunday and went to Peconic Bay Medical Center to investigate further.

The investigation led police to Mr. Wassenaar who was arrested and held overnight for arraignment before Judge Allen Smith.

At his arraignment, Mr. Wassenaar told the judge he had previously lived in Texas, but was sent to the ranch due to issues in school and was told he couldn’t return to his family’s house unless he completed the program.

He also said he was a recent transfer to the Riverhead High School, though superintendent Nancy Carney later told the newspaper he is not a student in the district.

Mr. Wassenaar has never been arrested before, his attorney said. Mr. Francese suggested the teen be released into the custody of a Timothy Hill employee, but Judge Smith rejected the idea that an employee could keep the teen apart from his alleged victim.

“That noise you hear in the background is my bulls— detector going off,” Judge Smith told Mr. Wassenaar’s attorney before rejected the request.

The Timothy Hill employee — who declined to give his name to a reporter — told the judge the ranch was “changing lives.”

The judge, who issued an order of protection for the victim, set bail at $2,500. By 4:30 p.m. Monday, bail had been posted and Mr. Wassenaar was released.

The Timothy Hill employee at the arraignment declined to comment, and referred questions to the Timothy Hill ranch office. Executive director Thaddaeus Hill declined to comment on the incident Tuesday morning.

psquire@timesreview.com

A Riverhead man reported being assaulted and slashed on the chest and shoulder with a razor by two men as he was walking down Maple Avenue last Monday, police said. 

The victim told police he was walking down the street about 11 a.m. when two men jumped out of a gold Nissan and started fighting with him, according to a report. One of the men took out a blue razor and cut him on the chest and shoulder before getting back into the car and taking off, police said. 

The victim was transported to PBMC for his injuries, according to a report. Police are investigating.

• A 44-year-old Riverhead man was arrested for urinating in public Friday morning, police said.

Alex Garcia was arrested about 9:45 a.m. after police saw him urinating in an alleyway south of Railroad Avenue, according to a report.

• A three-foot tall ceramic pig ornament was reported stolen from a Linda Lane flower garden Saturday.

The owner believes the pig, which was used as a decoration in the front yard, was stolen sometime around midnight, police said.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.

The tree at the bottom of the bluff in Wading River, where Matthew Grimaldi fell Sunday evening. (Credit: Grant Parpan)

As you walk east along Oakwood on the Sound beach at the end of Hulse Landing Road in Wading River, a fence stretching more than 100 yards contains signs warning beachgoers of the dangerous collapsing cliffs above.

But just beyond the fencing are several bluffs that, although steep, can be climbed by any able-bodied person seeking a thrill.

On Sunday evening, during a private Memorial Day weekend party on the beach, a climb up one of those bluffs turned tragic. 

Matthew Grimaldi, 18, of Lake Grove had climbed a bluff along with several friends and was returning to the beach when he lost his footing shortly before 7 p.m., Riverhead Town police said. He landed on a felled tree resting along the edge of the beach and was impaled by one of the trees sharp limbs pointing up toward the bluff.

Matthew suffered a severe puncture wound to the chest and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said. He was treated at the scene and transported to the hospital by Wading River Fire Department personnel.

A neighbor of the beach said erosion caused in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy has made the bluffs more attractive to teens at the beach.

“You’ll always see deer up there, but since Sandy we’re seeing more and more kids climbing,” said the neighbor, who declined to give his full name.

As folks walked their dogs and fishermen cast their poles on the beach Monday morning, a climber could be spotted scaling the bluff immediately to the east of Sunday’s tragic fall.

“It’s very dangerous,” the neighbor said. “This is just horrible, very sad.”

Matthew Grimaldi
(Credit: Facebook)

Matthew was a senior at Ward Melville High School set to graduate alongside his twin brother next month.

“Matt was a really good kid, polite, funny and smart,” said Vincent Cereola an English teacher at Ward Melville High School, who taught him junior year. “He was always a positive presence in my class.”

Riverhead Police said an investigation into the death was continuing and asked anyone with information to call them at 631-727-4500, ext. 332.

Editor’s Note: At the request of many of our readers, several photos originally posted on the jump page of this post have been removed. 

A bicyclist was transported to Stony Brook University Medical Center early this morning after a collision with a motor vehicle in Riverhead, according to Riverhead Town police. 

The bicyclist, 24-year-old Jesus Flores-Antonio of Riverhead, suffered non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The accident occurred at the intersection of Route 25 and Doctor’s Path at about 5:23 a.m., police said. The driver of the vehicle, a 2002 Ford pick-up truck, was questioned at the scene and was not charged. No criminal charges are expected at this time, police said.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check, police said, and the accident remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call police at 727-4500, ext. 328.

Trendell Walker (Credit: Suffolk County Crime Stoppers)

Riverhead and Suffolk County police are asking for the public’s help to locate a Riverhead ex-con wanted in connection with a domestic incident at a Riverhead bar last month. 

Police said 25-year-old Trendell J. Walker has an active warrant for criminal contempt after he was involved in the incident at the Loose Caboose Bar on Osborne Avenue on May 17. Riverhead police had previously said Mr. Walker had physically harassed a woman at the bar, violating an order of protection.

Mr. Walker is described as 5-foot-11 and about 210 pounds.

Mr. Walker has been know to visit the Calverton Hills condominium complex and the Riverhead area, police said. He also has a history of running from police and resisting arrest, according to a police statement.

Trendell Walker was previously on Riverhead’s Most Wanted List and served time in an upstate maximum security prison before being released on parole in 2012.

Loose Caboose on Railroad Avenue. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

Since then, Mr. Walker was arrested in January 2013 after police said he smashed a woman’s head into a car, and he was arrested again last November on charges of criminal contempt for disobeying a court order.

Detectives have urged people to “use extreme caution when dealing with Walker,” according to the statement.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Police ask anyone with information about Mr. Walkers whereabouts to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

psquire@timesreview.com

A Riverhead High School employee’s Dodge pickup truck was spray-painted with graffiti early Thursday morning, Riverhead Town police said. 

Police responded to the high school at 12:08 am. and found the graffiti on the truck as well as a on a northeast exterior wall of the high school. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the police department at 727-4500.

The value of the damage is not immediately clear, police said.