Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
TICKETS
Pablo Berrezueta of Montauk was driving on North Ferry Road on Jan. 28 when he was stopped by police and ticketed for operating without a license and driving while his registration was suspended/revoked.
On Jan. 29 an anonymous motorist described seeing a truck speeding; police located the driver, Sandra M. Gonzalez Escudero of Hampton Bays, who was subsequently ticketed on St. Mary’s and Manhanset roads for failure to stop at a stop sign and to yield right of way to an emergency vehicle. She was also cited for making an improper or unsafe turn without signaling.
Four days later, Ms. Gonzalez Escudero was stopped on North Menantic Road and given two summonses for driving out of class and for using a portable electronic device.
Dawn B. Hagen of Sag Harbor was given a summons on North Ferry Road on Feb. 1 for driving with a suspended/revoked registration.
On the 2nd, Anton W. Ficurilli of Greenport was ticketed on South Ferry Road for driving an uninspected vehicle.
Maximillian K. Pelletier of Shelter Island was given a summons on Feb. 3 for operating an uninspected vehicle.
Also on Feb. 3, Fidel Hernandez-Huit of Riverhead was given two tickets on North Ferry Road for having inadequate or no brake lights and for operating out of class.
Alvin Garcia of Sag Harbor was ticketed on North Ferry Road on Feb. 3 for driving while his registration was suspended/revoked.
Police conducted traffic stops and distracted driving and radar enforcement in the Center, Menantic and the Heights on Jan. 28 through 30 and Feb. 1 through 4, resulting in eight tickets and six warnings.
ACCIDENT
Kenneth L. Lewis Jr. of Shelter Island was driving southbound on South Ferry Road on Jan. 30 when he hit a deer that had run onto the roadway, causing over $1,000 in damage to the front of the vehicle.
OTHER REPORTS
On Jan. 28, police assisted Southold police by registering a license plate number assigned to a person mistakenly thought to be suicidal. The individual’s Facebook account had been hacked with that information and BOLO (Be On the Lookout) and Vigilant warnings were issued and then later rescinded.
That day, police also assisted in making contact, on request, with another individual.
A caller requested an extra patrol on Jan. 29 after an unknown person rang the doorbell at 2 a.m.
On Jan. 30 a caller reported, for information purposes, that a person in apparently an “agitated state” had entered a Center store, then left without incident. An extra patrol was requested.
The next day, a caller told police about hunters on a vacant lot in Silver Beach. Police located a hunter who was certified and authorized to be on the property.
A caller reported on Jan. 31 that two men had removed a boat trailer from a neighbor’s property. Police contacted the property’s owner who had given the men permission.
Also on that day, a caller said that gunshots were heard in the Center and also reported on ongoing issues with hunters. An officer canvassed the area with negative results.
A complainant called 911 on Jan. 31 to report a man had come to her Silver Beach residence to ask directions. Police located the person who told the officer he was lost and had stopped to get directions. No further action was taken.
Police received a report that a motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed in West Neck on Feb. 2; an officer responded and searched the area with no results.
Police were told on Feb. 3 about a red flashing light coming from a property located across a creek in Silver Beach. An officer confirmed that the light was a result of work being done on the resident’s deck.
On patrol on Feb. 3, an officer noticed lights on at a Sunset Beach staff house. A manager reported that staff were on the property to check on maintenance during the mild weather.
In other reports, officers conducted D.A.R.E. classes for fifth and seventh graders; responded to a disabled vehicle; attended intoxilyzer and taser training; and assisted the Fire Department in helping a resident at home.
ANIMAL INCIDENTS
There were three deer incidents on Jan. 28 and Feb. 1 and 2; all were dead and the Shelter Island Highway Department was notified for removal.
A dog was reported at large in Westmoreland on Jan. 30; an officer searched the area with negative results.
ALARMS
A caretaker accidentally set off a panic alarm while working in a Center resident’s attic on Jan. 28.
On the 30th, a Center caller reported receiving a message from Suffolk County Systems regarding an alarm in the residence. Police contacted the company and learned that the message had to do with a system connection problem and was not notice of an active alarm.
AIDED CASES
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service teams transported a person to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Jan. 29. The patient had been bitten by a dog; an animal control officer was on site to check the dog’s license and medical information.
A second person was taken by an EMS team to ELIH on Feb. 2.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
SUMMONSES
Joseph R. Montanez of Rocky Point was driving on Manwaring Road on Feb. 5 when he was stopped and ticketed for using a portable electronic device.
Pamela L. Jackson of Shelter Island was given a summons on West Neck Road for failure to stop at a stop sign on Feb. 6.
The same day, Paul R. Stewart, Shelter Island, was stopped on North Ferry Road for driving an uninspected vehicle. On Feb. 7, James S. Cummings, Shelter Island, was ticketed on Grand Avenue for also not having a vehicle inspection.
Ian Weslek, Shelter Island, was given a ticket on North Ferry Road on Feb. 7 for driving and using a cellphone without a hands-free device.
Marian R. Teodoru, Shelter Island, was on Grand Avenue when she was stopped on Feb. 8 and given a summons for driving while using a portable electronic device.
On Feb. 8, V. R. Felis-Berto of Central Islip was ticketed on New York Avenue for failure to stop at a stop sign. He was also cited for aggravated unlicensed operation in the 2nd degree and for unlicensed operation.
Colin Hoogerwerf of Sag Harbor was driving on Smith Street on Feb. 10 when he was given a summons for making an improper/unsafe turn without signaling.
Distracted driving enforcement and traffic stops were conducted on Feb. 4 through 10 in the Center, Menantic, the Heights and South Ferry Hills, resulting in the above tickets and 13 warnings.
ACCIDENTS
Judith J. Gruttman of Shelter Island was backing out of the Shelter Island School’s parking lot on Feb. 5 when she hit a parked truck belonging to Rachel R. Brigham, also of Shelter Island. There was over $1,000 damage to the truck’s driver’s-side front; no damage was noted for Ms. Gruttman’s vehicle.
ANIMAL INCIDENTS
A person dropped off a dog at large at police headquarters on Feb. 4. An officer identified the dog, returned it to the owner and replaced the batteries in the dog’s electric fence collar.
A person came to headquarters at 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 9 to report that a dog she was taking care of had run out of the residence and couldn’t be found. Police canvassed the area during a night tour of duty with negative results.
OTHER REPORTS
On Feb. 4, a caller reported, for police information purposes, a statement made to her by a family member. Also on that date, police responded to a landlord/tenant dispute.
On Feb. 6, a caller from Silver Beach reported finding tire tracks on her lawn when she returned home after the weekend.
A caller told police on Feb. 6 that money had been removed from an account over a period of several months.
A “very agitated” person was reported making inappropriate comments at a Heights business on Feb. 6. The caller did not want to pursue charges or a trespassing complaint. The subject was gone when police arrived, and the officer was unsuccessful in making contact.
On Feb. 7, a caller told police about hearing a loud noise inside her Center home. An officer checked inside and outside of the residence with negative results.
Strong winds on Feb. 7 caused four reported incidents: A large tree limb fell on a Cartwright roadway; the Shelter Island Highway Department was notified. In the Center, a tree and wires were blocking both lanes of traffic; the road was closed until PSEG responded. A swaying utility pole in Longview brought wires down close to the roadway. PSEG was notified and the road closed. In Dering Harbor, a large tree came down on power wires; PSEG was notified.
A Center caller reported on Feb. 7 that several landscaping companies were dumping brush (and leaving dumpsters) on a lot in the Center. Police interviewed them and they all said the lot was vacant and they did not think dumping there would be an issue. They were advised to move any items still at the location.
On Feb. 8, police responded to a report about the smell of smoke in a Center garage apartment. The Shelter Island Fire Department investigated with thermal imaging sensors and determined the smell was coming from a faulty DVD player. It was unplugged without incident.
An officer on patrol on Feb. 9 noticed an open door at an abandoned building in the Heights; there were no signs of any criminal activity.
Also on the 9th, a West Neck owner called police to report that chains had been removed at the entrance to the property.
A power outage was reported on Prospect Avenue in the Heights on Feb. 10; PSEG was notified.
In other reports, officers responded to two lost and found cases; opened a vehicle with the keys locked inside; checked on the wellbeing of a resident; taught D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) classes to 5th and 7th graders and attended Taser and defensive tactics training in East Hampton.
ALARMS
A residential burglary alarm in the Center was accidentally set off on Feb. 4 by an interior decorator; the caretaker responded and deactivated the alarm.
On the 6th, a residential alarm in Silver Beach was activated by mistake by the caretaker.
Two days later, an alarm at a Ram Island home was set off by the caretaker who momentarily forgot the password.
AIDED CASES
A Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service team transported a person to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Feb. 10.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrests
Police officers, the Shelter Island Fire Department and an Emergency Medical Services team responded to a report of an accident on Bowditch Road on Feb. 12 at 8:45 a.m. Following an investigation, police determined that Aidan L. Monte, 24, of Shelter Island and his passenger, Annamarie Ruscica, 23, of Shelter Island, were driving eastbound on Bowditch when Mr. Monte’s vehicle crossed over the center line into the westbound lane and then off the roadway, hitting a utility pole. The vehicle overturned and slid upside down into a wooded area where it came to a stop.
Mr. Monte and Ms. Ruscica were both injured and transported by ambulance to Eastern Long Island Hospital. Mr. Monte was arrested for driving while ability impaired by drugs, reckless driving, imprudent/unreasonable speed, failure to keep right and unlawful possession of marijuana in the 2nd degree. He was in police custody during transport to the hospital and released later on an appearance ticket.
Detective Sergeant Jack Thilberg said in a release that the investigation remains active at this time, although speed and reckless driving were contributing causes for the accident.
Summonses
Richard C. Malone of Watermill was driving on St. Mary’s Road on Feb. 11 when he was stopped and ticketed for speed not reasonable and prudent.
On Feb. 13, Alex A. Tenkarian of Sag Harbor was given a summons on North Ferry Road for driving an unregistered vehicle.
Police conducted 14 traffic stops and distracted driving enforcement in the Center, West Neck and the Heights on Feb. 11 through 14 and on Feb. 16 and 17 resulting in two tickets and four warnings.
Accidents
On Feb. 13, Jamie A. Gatto of Branford, Conn. was on the ferry lane about to board a North Ferry boat when Stephen H. Fay of Shelter Island backed out of a parking place at the North Ferry Company and hit the passenger side, midsection of Mr. Gatto’s vehicle. There was over $1,000 in damage, including damage to the passenger side rear of Mr. Fay’s vehicle. There were no injuries.
Suzzanne Whitmore of Amagansett was driving south on South Ferry Road on Feb. 17 when a deer ran onto the roadway, hit her vehicle and caused over $1,000 in damage to the driver’s-side front of the vehicle.
A minor accident, also on Feb. 27, occurred when Peter Paul Gulluscio of Shelter Island attempted to drive around Shelter Islander Carol Sieni’s vehicle, parked in the Presbyterian Church lot. He was on his way to exit the lot when, in reverse, he hit Ms. Sieni’s vehicle at low speed, damaging the front bumper and causing some damage to his rear bumper.
Other reports
Civil documentation was provided on Feb. 11 regarding a fence taken down in West Neck.
Police responded to a domestic dispute in the Center on Feb. 12. On that day, a Center landlord reported ongoing issues with tenants and was advised to contact an attorney.
On the 13th, a complainant was at Police Headquarters to document a child custody matter.
A caller reported on Feb. 13 that a vehicle was stuck in the mud in the Center; police assisted the caller in contacting AAA.
On Feb. 14, a Heights caller reported a domestic dispute and on the 15th an officer assisted a resident with a heating system problem.
An officer monitoring traffic in the Center on Feb. 16 was approached by a passing motorist who said she had found a dog at large on South Ferry Road. An animal control officer returned the dog to its owner.
A person called police on Feb. 16 to report a dead deer beside a house. An officer dragged it to the road and notified the Shelter Island Highway Department.
A call reported on Feb. 16, for information purposes, about receiving multiple text messages from an unknown source, and had been trying to contact the sender with negative results.
On the 17th, an officer followed up on an anonymous call about a possible abandoned bicycle on a Menantic roadway and discovered that, earlier, the bicycle and its trailer had broken apart. Close to midnight on that day, a caller, alone in the house, reported hearing noises in the basement. An officer searched the interior of the home and found no signs of any criminal activity.
In other reports, officers conducted D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programs on resistance strategies to 4th and 5th graders, attended rifle qualification training and carried out a well-being check.
Alarms
The Shelter Island Fire Department responded to two fire alarms on Feb. 15 and 17 in Hay Beach and the Center, respectively. The first was set off by burning food; the second was a false alarm due to smoke from cooking.
A commercial alarm was reported at the Shelter Island Heights Pharmacy on Feb. 11; the door alarm had been set off while entering the code. On the 13th, a burglary alarm was activated at a home in Shorewood, The caretaker notified police that a friend of the owner had entered the wrong passcode.
The fifth alarm of the week on Feb. 15 was a residential one in the Center; an officer found the location secure.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service teams transported two people to East-ern Long Island Hospital on Feb. 14.
He thought he was prepared for the worst. But what Father Charles McCarron discovered, checking on an elderly friend and colleague one midday two years ago, was a horrific and heartbreaking crime, something he said he could never have prepared for.
A crime that is still unsolved
“It’s been kind of like a PTSD event for me,” Father McCarron, the pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, said last week.
That bright, windy March day, he had gone to Reverend Canon Paul Wancura’s home in Silver Beach. The retired 87-year-old Episcopal minister had been absent for Sunday services at a church in West Islip where he had assisted most weekends. The widowed churchman, who had no living close relatives, had not answered his phone or responded to messages.
“It was remarkable, even at 87, that he never missed a service, driving there every Sunday,” Father McCarron said. “Something was wrong.”
He entered the waterfront house on Oak Tree Lane, the one-lane road that leads to Shell Beach, through the garage door, which Rev. Wancura had a habit of leaving open.
“Knowing his age, I was prepared to find that he might have fallen, or was ill,” Father McCarron said. “But not what I found.”
The elderly minister was in a bedroom, trapped in a corner in a heap between the bed and a wall, with his wrists tightly bound. It was determined that he had been in that state from three to seven days, Shelter Island Police Chief Jim Read said. Rev. Wancura was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital and placed in the intensive care unit.
He never left it.
We’ve run every lead down, and everything that comes in, we run it down. We want to bring this in.
Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer, SCPD
After enduring multiple blood transfusions and the amputation of his left hand, the venerable priest succumbed to his wounds on April 16, 2018, just short of a month after being found. The official cause of death was sepsis, which is a system-wide infection, usually caused by injuries.
He was lucid and his own personable self during his time in the ICU, Father McCarron and others said, receiving friends and colleagues at his bedside. At times he rallied, giving hope he’d pull through. But being tied up for days, immobile against a wall, had been too much for the nearly 90-year-old man.
A visitor to the hospital, a veteran of Vietnam, said he had never seen such serious wounds since his service in the war.
The crime has been characterized as the worst in the Island’s history.
A watch police believe may have been taken from the home. (Courtesy of Suffolk PD)
“ACTIVE”
Over the past two years, there have been no arrests, and no suspects identified. The Shelter Island Police and the Suffolk County Police departments have designated the crime as a home invasion, burglary — several items of jewelry were stolen — and a homicide. Both departments say the investigation is “active.”
Adding to the mystery, is that soon after Father McCarron’s discovery of Rev. Wancura, the police reported another burglary on Oak Tree Lane they estimated occurred on the afternoon of March 4, when the owners “returned after being away for an extended period of time,” Chief Read said at the time. “Detectives are exploring the possibility that the burglary and the discovery of a burglary two weeks ago in the same area might be connected.” The chief added that the second incident is “broadening the scope of looking at suspects.”
About a month after the first reports of the incident surfaced, the police released a description and photograph of one of the items stolen from Rev. Wancura’s residence, a Lucien Piccard Seashark watch. A $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers has been posted for two years. Anyone with information is urged to phone 1-800-220-TIPS.
Chief Read, within a few days of the reports from Oak Tree Lane, said it was “not a random incident.” Detective Lieutenant Kevin Beyrer, commanding officer of the Suffolk County Police Department’s homicide squad, confirmed last week that assessment is still the belief of the investigators.
“There were elements of the crime that led us to believe that, whoever did this, planned it and knew what they were doing going into it,” Det. Beyrer told the Reporter. “We don’t believe that the person or persons who did this thought they were going into an unoccupied house.”
One of Rev. Wancura’s friends, who had visited him in the hospital, said that he had told him it was not “persons” who had committed the crime, but one man. When this was mentioned to the detective last week, he confirmed that the victim “did speak about one person, but we don’t want to limit ourselves. We want to keep our options open.”
The officer said his department has “looked at hundreds of people, everyone he had contact with,” noting that a clergyman “has contacts with hundreds of people.”
Rumors were part of nearly every Island conversation in the weeks after the homicide. One that stuck was that an employee on a crew working on bulkheads in the area could be counted as a suspect. Det. Beyrer is aware of the theory, but said at this point it is just that.
It’s in no way a cold case, he said, even though lately, tips on information have been few and far between. In the beginning of an investigation, especially one with the notoriety of the Wancura case, the police receive a lot of tips, he added.
“People come up with theories,” Det. Beyrer said. “Different ideas, things we might not have seen.”
But over time, the rate of the public’s contact with the police providing information drops, he said.
“We’ve run every lead down, and everything that comes in, we run it down,” the detective said. “We want to bring this in.”
After the crime became known, a sense of fear flooded through every Island neighborhood, affecting people of all ages, but especially senior citizens. The Island was that cliched place where people didn’t feel the need to lock their doors at night. The incident on Oak Tree Lane inspired the town supervisor at the time, Gary Gerth, to sum up what was on the minds of many residents: “This has shattered the innocence of Shelter Island.”
SHOCK
Reports of the case, of an elderly minister assaulted, bound, left alone and subsequently dying from the attack, in a small Island town that had only one other reported homicide in its nearly 300-year history, attracted extraordinary attention. There were stories in media outlets as far afield as Britain.
Steps were taken with the town, through the office of Senior Services, to stay in constant touch with the 60 or so elderly Islanders who live here alone.
“We are a strong people,” the supervisor said at the time, and he urged residents to “be vigilant.”
But two years can be a long time, Laurie Fanelli, the director of Senior Services, said recently, noting that after the news spread, doors were locked and people had taken the supervisor’s advice to be vigilant. “But now, doors are back open,” Ms. Fanelli said. “There was more of a neighborhood watch, neighbor was helping neighbor and there was more cohesion. Now, I think that’s been put away.”
Asked if that was a good or bad thing, Ms. Fanelli said in some ways it was a better attitude. “At least they can sleep,” she said, adding that she’d heard of one elderly citizen “who had the entire house illuminated all night.”
The Senior Center is still in close touch with those living alone, and, Ms. Fanelli said, services such as Meals on Wheels continue to be attentive to the well-being and safety of their clients.
A RENAISSANCE MAN
For many of his friends, what has been lost over time after the frightening and gruesome incident, is the quality of person Rev. Wancura was throughout his life.
An Episcopal archdeacon of Suffolk County, he served in many roles throughout the Diocese of Long Island, including, for a decade, serving at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Greenport. A graduate of Queens College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Administration, he held a Master of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary in New York City.
He had also served with the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps in Austria and France, before finding his vocation in the Episcopal priesthood.
Rev. Wancura was interred in the cemetery of the Caroline Church of Brookhaven in Setauket on April 23, 2018 where he had served as pastor for close to three decades. He was laid to rest alongside his wife, Helena, who died in 2007.
At a memorial service held at St. Mary’s in April 2018, his friend, Islander Twoey Brayson, noted that Rev. Wancura met Helena at St. Mary’s, when she was a parish administrator. “Their union was one of graciousness and full of love,” Mr. Brayson said.
Mr. Brayson remembered Rev. Wancura as a man of “keen intellect,” who was versed in history and theology, who “liked to dance, sing, enjoyed a good cigar and a wee dram of Scotch … He was still a student. He never acted old.”
Over the past two years he’s thought often about his friend, Mr. Brayson said last week. “Even though he was content to be alone, Paul claimed to not be lonely. To the contrary, he could be a very sociable fellow, a good storyteller, a gracious host or guest,” he said. “He loved Shelter Island for its natural beauty but also for its peacefulness … Paul is truly missed by all who knew him, loved him and were enriched by having him in their lives.”
Also reached last week, Michael Russell, a parishioner of the Caroline Church, recalled Rev. Wancura as an energetic and dynamic pastor. “A whole bunch of us became parishioners after meeting him,” Mr. Russell said. “He built our church up. Our Sunday school is flourishing.”
But Mr. Russell’s memories of Rev. Wancura are more as a dear friend than a pastor. He recalled many visits to Shelter Island and “countless, happy hours” of vibrant conversation with his friend. “He was a Renaissance man, 87 going on 50,” Mr. Russell said.
Father Peter DeSanctis, pastor of Our Lady of the Isle, remembered him as a man of dedication “to Our Lord, to his wife and to his professional obligations. Paul was always on the alert, not waiting for the phone to ring or the knock on the door, for situations where an intervention would be helpful.”
Father DeSanctis especially remembered his friend’s selflessness, recalling that when he first visited him in the ICU, before he had a chance to speak, Rev. Wancura asked him how he was doing, and about Father DeSanctis’ brother.
“He was thinking about me, and there he was in his hospital bed,” the priest said.
Father Charles McCarron, pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, at a memorial service in May 2018 for his friend, Reverend Paul Wancura. (Credit: Beverlea Walz))
A BLESSING
Asked about the day he found his friend, and the images that accompany his memory, Father McCarron said he’s “talked about it and worked through it” with a person in his diocese who counsels priests on personal issues.
He said that at the annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Mary’s, he blessed a statue of St. Francis. “We put it at the entrance of the garden” at the Oak Tree Lane house. “It’s a concrete — literally — reminder of who he was,” Father McCarron said.
He paused, and added, “ Paul is where he always wanted to be. I believe he’s doing pretty good.”
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Allen M. Tooker of Laurel, Tyler J. Maguire of Montauk and Richard A. Steiner of East Haddam, Conn. were given summonses on Feb. 26, 27 and 29 on North Ferry and South Ferry roads and Smith Street, respectively, for driving uninspected vehicles.
Abimael Collazo of Greenport was driving on Grand Avenue on Feb. 27 when he was ticketed for operating a vehicle with the visibility distorted by broken glass.
Ellen L. Rosenthal of Great Barrington, Mass. was stopped on Cedar Avenue on March 1 for driving with inadequate or no brake lights.
Police conducted 30 traffic stops and distracted driving and radar enforcement in the Center, Menantic, the Heights, South Ferry Hills and West Neck on Feb. 25 through 29 and Mar. 1 and 2, resulting in the above tickets and 24 warnings.
Accidents
On Feb. 27, Julieta S. Santos-Defabian of Shelter Island was exiting her vehicle in the Shelter Island School parking lot when she said a strong gust of wind caused the door to swing open and hit a parked vehicle belonging to Sheena L. Bocciolone of Port Jefferson Station. There was minor damage to the passenger door of Ms. Bocciolone’s vehicle.
Ms. Santos-Defabian was given a summons for a driver’s license infraction.
Other Reports
On Feb. 25, a caller told police about seeing an open door and two broken windows at an abandoned property in the Center and had noticed youths in the vicinity earlier. On the 26th, an officer stopped two juveniles on the property and subsequently spoke to their parents. The owner of the property was advised to board and lock all doors and windows to prevent access and/or injury.
Police opened a confidential investigation into a case involving drugs on Feb. 25.
On Feb. 25, a caller reported a possible burglary after seeing a broken window at a Center property. It was determined that the window had been cracked by a large bird; no other damage was noted.
Police received a report of an oven fire in Cartwright on Feb. 26. It had been put out by the caller prior to police arrival. The Shelter Island Fire Department (SIFD) assisted in airing out the residence.
On Feb. 26, a complainant reported that a vehicle was crossing over a double yellow line in the Center several times. An officer located the vehicle, followed it and did not observe any traffic violations.
A Ram Island owner told police on Feb. 27 that someone had tried to enter the residence. An officer located fuel company workers near the pool house and interviewed an employee who stated he had entered the inside of the premises, with permission, to inspect the fireplace.
An open window was reported in West Neck on Feb. 29 by a caller who believed the owner was out of town. Police contacted the owner and determined there was no problem. On the same day, police were contacted about a prior fraud case.
An officer on patrol on Mar. 1 noticed an open garage bay door with the lights on at the Heights firehouse. The door was secured and the SIFD notified.
The same day, an officer noticed a man walking around a construction site in Silver Beach. The individual said he was on a bicycle ride and had stopped to “look around.” He was advised he was trespassing and to leave the property.
Police on patrol on Mar. 2, noticed phone lines were down in a Shorewood neighborhood; Verizon was notified.
A Center caller reported on Mar. 2 that razor wire and barbed wire were being used as fencing at a Center residence. The complaint was referred to the Building Department.
The Police Department provided civil documentation about hedges on a Heights property on Mar. 2, and also notified PSEG about wires down across a Center driveway.
A domestic dispute in the Center involving a family member was also reported on Mar. 2. That day, Emergency Medical Services conducted training on the coronavirus and other infectious diseases.
There were three animal incidents during the week. A motorist reported an injured fox crossing the road onto the Shelter Island Country Club property on Feb. 25. It was gone when police arrived. A dog reported at large in Cartwright was returned to its owner on Feb. 2.
When a caller reported on Feb. 26 losing a dog that had run off, chasing a deer, an officer and volunteers spent hours searching for it. Finally on Feb. 29, the owner retrieved the dog at Tarkettle and Midway roads.
Alarms
Two motion sensors were set off on Feb. 27 at homes in the Center and Hay Beach. Police found the exterior doors and windows were secure in one residence; high winds may have blown open an unsecured door in the second.
A basement smoke alarm at a Montclair residence was activated on Feb. 28 by an employee who was painting and had set off the alarm accidentally.
The SIFD responded to a fire alarm in the Center on Feb. 29, set off by a burnt bag of popcorn. On Mar. 1, a caretaker of a property in the Center said the alarm was triggered by trouble with the detector and keypad.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service teams transported two individuals to Southampton Hospital and Eastern Long Island Hospital on Feb. 25 and Mar. 1 respectively.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Melvin O. Cruz Ventura of Greenport was on Ram Island Road when he was stopped by police on March 3 and ticketed for driving an uninspected vehicle.
The next day, Marco A. Loja Illescas of Silver Spring, Md. was on North Ferry Road when he was given a summons for operating a vehicle while using a portable electronic device.
On March 8, Luis F. Perezporon of Greenport was given summonses on North Menantic Road for failure to cover loose cargo and for a driver’s license infraction.
Jesse Koncelik of Sag Harbor was stopped on North Ferry Road on March 9 for driving while his registration was suspended/revoked.
Police conducted traffic stops and radar and distracted driving enforcement in the Center and Menantic on March 3 through 5 and on March 8 and 9, resulting in the tickets above and three warnings.
Accidents
Brain Shelby of Greenport was driving northbound on Grand Avenue on March 4 when he crossed over a double yellow line and struck the mirror of a vehicle driven by John Irving McEnroe of Shelter Island, who was headed south. There was under $1,000 in damage to both driver’s side mirrors.
On March 6. Emily L. Kraus of Southold was driving eastbound on Manhanset Road when Jesus A. Floresguzman of Valley Stream. N.Y. was backing up and did not see Ms. Kraus, colliding with her vehicle. There was over $1,000 in damage to the front end and driver’s side quarter panel of her vehicle and no reported damage to the other.
Other reports
On March 3, a complainant reported, for information purposes, receiving harassing comments.
A caller told police on March 3 that a person paid to do a job had failed to complete it.
Police looked into a 911 hang-up call on March 4. It was from a caller who had been awakened by a noise outside. An officer searched the exterior of the residence and found no signs of criminal activity.
An order of protection was issued by police on March 6.
On March 6, a person who caused a disturbance in the Heights was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for evaluation.
A caller told police on March 7 that a dumpster was a hazard to traffic in Dering Harbor. An officer talked to an employee who said he would have it removed ASAP.
An officer attempted to deliver an affidavit of trespass on March 7, but the person was not at home. After another try, it was subsequently delivered on March 9.
Police received a report on March 8 that a tree limb had fallen on a vehicle; an officer verified the damage to the hood, the driver’s side front post and the windshield.
Also on the 8th, a caller reported that someone had thrown a glass bottle over a Center fence onto a parking lot. After a brief investigation, an officer located the responsible youth and spoke to him about the incident.
There were several incidents involving animals during the week.
A dead deer was reported on the side of the road in Silver Beach; an injured deer in the Center was gone when police arrived.
A dog was found at large in the Center; the owner was notified and retrieved the animal. A caller told police that dogs had been barking in the Center for approximately 30 minutes. An officer canvassed the area but found no barking dogs.
An injured fox was reported in the Center; it was not alive when police responded.
And finally, a caller told police there was a cat at large on the property. The cat was scanned for a microchip and, as a result, the owner identified and contacted.
In other reports, officers attended active shooter training in Easthampton, rifle requalification in Westhampton and completed Suffolk County Field Training Officer School. Police taught D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) lessons to 5th graders; hosted Pre-K tours of headquarters; responded to three lost and found reports; assisted a resident in the home; and unlocked a vehicle with the keys inside.
Alarms
Two burglary alarms were set off at homes in Menantic and the Heights on March 6 and 9 respectively. In one, the owner entered the wrong passcode; in the second, workers did the same.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported three people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on March 4 and 8 and responded to another call on March 3 where transport was refused.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving
police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges
against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not
guilty.
Summonses
Susan M. Williams of Shelter Island was
driving on South Ferry Road on March 12 when she was stopped by police for
operating a vehicle without proper plates. Police determined that the plates had
been switched due to a registration suspended for driving without insurance.
The plates were removed and three tickets issued.
Police conducted six traffic stops and
distracted driving and radar enforcement on March 10, 13 and 14 in the Center
and Heights, yielding four warnings.
OTHER REPORTS
A caller complained about loud hammering
noises coming from a Center residence shortly after midnight on March 11. An
officer located the man who had stopped hammering nails and stated he was
finished working for the night.
A silent panic alarm was activated at a
Center residence on March 11. An employee said there were no problems and he
was unaware he had set off the alarm.
An officer on patrol that day noticed an open
door on a Silver Beach garage. The owner said she had forgotten to close it.
A loud party at a Menantic residence was
reported to police on March 12 at about 11 p.m. A verbal warning about
unreasonable noise was given and the music was turned off. A short while later,
police received a second complaint, which was unfounded.
Also on March 12, police responded to a
person receiving unwanted phone calls and to a caller who reported the lock on
a shared storage unit had been cut. Police also investigated a case involving a
North Ferry check that had been fraudulently altered.
A caller told police on March 13 that low
hanging wires were blocking a Center roadway. The Shelter Island Fire
Department (SIFD) redirected traffic and PSEG responded.
Also on that day, a caretaker reported that a
rooster at large on a Center property was unable to fly over a fence. An
officer rescued the rooster and helped it over the fence.
On March 14, police investigated a report of
an unknown trailer parked on a West Neck property.
A SIFD chief reported heavy smoke in the
Westmoreland area on March 15. Police interviewed a person who had a permit for
the open burning there and he was advised to notify the SIFD, prior to a
burning, if he thought there would be excessive smoke.
A caller complained on March 15 about
employees at a Heights business making insensitive, joking remarks about the
coronavirus. An officer spoke to the owner and staff member who agreed to
refrain from joking about the virus when customers were around.
Officers responded to a non-violent domestic
dispute in the Center on March 15 and to a second domestic dispute in the
Center on March 16.
Police were also notified on March 15 that a
person was concerned about having been exposed to COVID-19 but was not
presenting any of the symptoms. An officer provided her with information about
the virus.
A power outage in the Center was reported on
March 16; PSEG repaired the problem remotely. A dog found at large in Silver
Beach was returned to its owner.
AIDED CASES
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services
teams responded to four aided cases on March 10, 14 and 15. In one case,
transportation was refused but otherwise provided; in another, medical
attention was refused and no immediate medical attention was necessary. Two
people were transported to Eastern Long Island Hospital and an EMS request for
the standby of Suffolk County Police Department Aviation was cancelled for one
of them.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving
police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges
against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not
guilty.
SUMMONSES
Christopher S. Knight of Shelter Island was
driving on South Ferry Road when he was stopped by police on March 17 and
ticketed for operating a vehicle while using a portable electronic device. He
was also given a summons for aggravated unlicensed operation in the 3rd degree,
a misdemeanor.
Sarah C. Paley of New York City was given a
ticket on West Neck Road on March 17 for driving an uninspected vehicle.
Also on the 17th, police issued a summons to
Philip L. Austern of New York City for driving with inadequate or no brake
lights.
S. M. Gonzalez-Escudero of Hampton Bays
received two tickets on March 19 on North Ferry Road for operating a vehicle
while using a portable electronic device and for a driver’s license infraction.
Traffic stops and distracted driving
enforcement were conducted on March 17, 19 and 20 in the Center, West Neck and
Ram Island, resulting in the six tickets above.
OTHER REPORTS
An officer searched unsuccessfully for a dog
reported missing in Silver Beach on March 17. A second caller reported a dog
running at large in Dering Harbor on March 22. The owner retrieved the dog
before police arrived.
An anonymous caller told police on March 17
that a number of cars were parked outside a Heights restaurant. An officer
responded with N.Y. State information on the recently required closing of
businesses. The next day, he spoke to the owner who said he understood and
would comply.
On March 17, a caller told police about
hearing noises from a vacant house and had seen someone come out of the house
who identified himself as a bank employee who was checking on the property.
On the 19th, a caller phoned police headquarters
and said her parent was not feeling well but didn’t have a thermometer to check
his temperature. She refused a police welfare check and was then advised to
have the parents contact the primary care physician and to call back if
necessary.
A complainant reported on March 19 seeing
offensive signage on a Heights establishment. An officer informed the caller
that signage was a form of freedom of speech and not a crime.
A caller told police on March 20 that a
person had contacted Town Hall to obtain Senior Center transportation. An
officer advised the person that transportation was only provided to seniors.
The individual said he needed a ride to South Ferry for a doctor’s appointment
and was told that he should contact a taxi service.
On March 20, a caller reported seeing two
unknown males on a West Neck property and when questioned, they got into a car
and left. An officer found the storage room under the lower deck of the house
was unlocked and the lights were on. An employee said there was no problem but
that the storage room would be secured.
A caller told police on March 20 that a
bright light was shining into her residence from the direction of Coecles
Harbor. An officer found a person offshore using a light for eeling. The
fisherman agreed to avoid aiming the light towards the complainant’s residence.
The next day, a caller reported that a person
in a parking lot in West Neck appeared to be emotionally upset, throwing
grocery bags and yelling. An officer found that the person had misplaced her phone
and was upset while looking for it.
An open burning in Hay Beach was reported on
March 21. Police found two small fires burning branches and told the person
involved that open burning was only permitted between Sept. 15 and March 15.
The individual was issued a verbal warning for the town code violation and
agreed to stop the burning.
Police responded to a report on March 21 of a
gathering of people on a West Neck beach. No violation of the law was found.
Young people were reported skateboarding on
the rear roof of the American Legion on March 21. An officer issued verbal
warnings to those involved.
Police received an email on March 21 from a
person concerned about an open house event in Silver Beach during the COVID-19
outbreak. The responding officer noted that the realtors and those viewing the
home wore masks and gloves and maintained a safe distance from each other. Safe
practices were discussed.
On March 22, a caller told police that a
former employee had taken two animal traps from a job site; the traps were
returned and no charges were pressed. The former employee was advised about
civil actions he could take to obtain lost wages.
The same day, police received a report about
harassing behavior for information purposes only and investigated an anonymous
complaint about a social gathering in the backyard of a Heights residence. An
officer found the two owners were running a pick-up service from their
beer/liquor store in New York City. The operation was subsequently shut down.
Police responded to a non-violent domestic
dispute in the Center on March 22.
An open door was reported at a Silver Beach
home on March 23. Police found the front door not latched properly; it might
have been blown open by high winds. There was no sign of any criminal activity.
ALARMS
There were three alarms during the week. Two
fire alarms were set off in the Center and Long View on March 17 and 21
respectively. The first was activated accidentally by an employee who was
sanding. The second was caused by steaming vegetables on the stove.
A residential alarm in Silver Beach went off
on March 17; a person showing the home entered the wrong pass code.
AIDED CASES
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service
teams transported three people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on March 21, 22 and
23; a fourth was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital on March 17.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving
police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges
against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not
guilty.
Incident reports
An anonymous caller told police on March 31
that a person was keeping lawn equipment on town property in Hay Beach. An
officer left a message for the equipment’s owner to contact the police
department.
Another person who wished to be anonymous
reported young people in the skate park on March 31 during closed hours. They
were advised to leave the area and get permission from the town to use the
park.
A caller told police on April 1 that a pickup
truck had parked in his driveway and a person had gotten out and walked to the
rear of the property. An officer canvassed the area with no results. The caller
subsequently notified police that he knew the person and no longer needed
assistance.
Police looked into why a bicycle and other
items were left in front of the North Ferry office for more than half an hour.
It turned out that the owner was in the bathroom.
A caller told police on April 2 that while
walking in Hay beach, she observed four men playing golf in close proximity to
one another. When she confronted them, they became agitated. An officer was
told by another person that the greens keeper had noticed the players and
advised them on social distancing.
On April 2 debris was reported on a roadway
in West Neck. Low-hanging wires were creating a hazard in the Center and
Cablevision was notified.
The same day, the Shelter Island Fire
Department (SIFD) responded to a caller’s report of a burning plastic smell
inside his Hay Beach home. The SIFD used thermal imaging cameras throughout the
residence with negative results.
A non-violent domestic dispute was reported
in the Center and a second non-violent dispute in Silver Beach on April 2. On
April 5, a domestic incident in the Center was reported to for document purposes
only.
On April 3, police advised a caller that he
could not change the locks on a shared residence in Silver Beach in order to
keep a person out and that communication between the two should be through
their lawyers.
Police received information on April 3 that a
Ram Island neighbor’s garbage, left in front of the residence, was blowing onto
the roadway. When the officer arrived, Shelter Island Environmental was
cleaning up the garbage.
A caller complained on April 3 about someone
driving at high rates of speed around the Island. The officer contacted the
vehicle’s owner who was advised to slow down or she would be given tickets in
the future. The officer did not witness the incident since the complaint was
after the fact.
Gun shots were heard in the Hay Beach area on
April 3. The area was searched with negative results.
Unable to reach a primary care doctor, a
caller asked police on April 4 how to contact someone for help with a family
member who had possible COVID-19 symptoms. The police responded with the number
of a medical professional who makes house calls and advised them to contact an
Emergency Medical Services team if the condition worsens and she is unable to
get medical help. The caller may also have been exposed to the virus.
A caller told police on April 4 that crews on
the North and South ferries were not wearing personal protective equipment.
On April 5, a caller reported that an upset
family member was driving a bulldozer on the property, creating noise. Later,
when an officer arrived, the caller said the person was fine and there was no
problem.
Also, on the 5th, police followed up on an
anonymous report of a car speeding on Ram Island and then swerving out of lane
towards a group of bikers. Police canvassed the area without results.
On April 5, police responded to a complainant
who had a verbal issue with a volunteer in the Center. An officer interviewed
the person who agreed to leave the property.
A caller reported on April 5 being a victim
of a scam. She was referred to the New York Police Department where she lives.
Police received a report on April 6 from a
caller about two or more people working on a construction site in Silver Beach.
An officer interviewed an employee who said he was the only one working there
but that lumber had been delivered by two individuals earlier.
A caller told police on April 6 that she saw
an elderly female at the Center post office who appeared to be in respiratory
distress. She was unable to identify the person.
There were five incidents involving animals
during the week. An injured gull was transported to a vet for treatment; a sick
fox in the roadway was gone when police arrived.
Dogs off the leash on Wades Beach charged at
a caller a few days prior to the caller’s report to police. An officer talked
to the owner who agreed to keep the dogs leashed. An officer returned a dog at
large in Shorewood to its owner. In a Center incident, a caller said he was
walking his dog when another dog broke off its leash and jumped on his dog. An
animal control officer reported no injuries to the caller’s dog but gave the
owner of the other dog a verbal warning.
In other reports, police assisted three
residents in their homes, provided an escort from the North Ferry, conducted a
well-being check, handled a lost and found case and responded to a false 911
call.
Alarms
On April 1, a burglary alarm was set off at a
garage door in Dering Harbor. There was no sign of any criminal activity. An
officer notified the owner who thought the alarm had been canceled.
A second burglary alarm was activated on that
date in the Center, set off when a cleaning person entered the wrong pass code.
The SIFD and police responded to a request to
check an alarm system in the Center on April 1.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams
responded to 10 aided cases during the week. Five people were transported to
Eastern Long Island Hospital on April 1, 2, 3 and 6 and one to Southampton
Hospital on April 1. Transport was refused in two cases and in another medical
attention was declined. Additional information was not available in the 10th
case.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police
summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against
them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
ACCIDENTS
Ronald S. Jernick was driving westbound on Bowditch Road
on April 10 when a deer ran onto the roadway and struck his vehicle. There was
no damage to the vehicle; the deer was killed in the accident.
Later that day, Joseph P. Houston of Shelter Island was
attempting to make a right turn on exiting a parking space in the IGA parking
lot when he struck a parked vehicle, causing over $1,000 damage to the
passenger-side step and rear quarter panel of his vehicle and the driver’s-side
front of the parked vehicle.
A caller told police on April 7 that a vehicle had been
parked on a Ram Island causeway for several days. An officer interviewed the
vehicle’s owner who said he parked at that location to walk his dog in the
morning.
Police
were asked on April to provide information about the eviction process.
On
April 8, the smell of gas in a South Ferry Hills home was reported. Police and
the Shelter Island Fire Department (SIFD) responded and found an outdoor
propane tank was low on gas. The tank was turned off and the owner advised to
call the propane company. A firefighter checked for carbon monoxide with
negative results.
Two
complaints were received on April 10 regarding ongoing construction projects in
Silver Beach and the Center that were in possible violation of a New York State
executive order regarding COVID-19. The sites, however, had received exemptions
from the state to continue construction.
A caller complained on April 11 that neighbors were
possibly traveling back and forth between Shelter Island and New York City and
not following the town’s instruction to self-quarantine.
A social worker, concerned about health risks, was
advised by police on April 11 that a tenant could invite friends into the
residence and that there was no legal action that could be taken. The tenant
was encouraged, however, to observe social distancing.
Police were told on April 11 that there was a boat at the
end of the complainant’s dock in Cartwright with a large light and individuals
talking loudly. The boat kept going farther down the creek where it was located
by an officer, who learned the occupants were eeling along the coastline of
Coecles Harbor.
A complainant reported on April 12 that tree work in the
Center was in possible violation of a New York State executive order. An
officer responded that tree and landscape maintenance was not considered
non-essential. The employer was encouraged, however, to continue social
distancing with his employees.
On
April 13, police provided a caller with contact information for obtaining an
order of protection. The same day, callers reported entering the Westmoreland
residence of a tenant, after notice was given in advance, to inspect the
interior and said the tenant became “agitated.” Police said no laws had been
broken by the tenant and that the proper eviction process should be followed.
High
winds on April 13 caused 11 reported cases of damage and hazardous conditions
caused by downed trees and wires in the Center, Dering Harbor, West Neck, the
Heights and South Ferry Hills. PSEG, Verizon and Cablevision were notified as
needed.
A domestic dispute was reported in Cartwright on April
13.
In other reports, officers opened two cars with the keys
locked inside, issued two warnings after a traffic stop in Menantic and
conducted a well-being check.
ALARMS
On April 7, a residential alarm was activated in Hay
Beach; the caretaker had entered the wrong passcode.
Police and the SIFD responded to a fire alarm in Silver
Beach on April 13; it was set off by a faulty smoke detector.
ANIMAL INCIDENTS
Five reports involved animals this week. A caller
reported baby squirrels following the residents around in West Neck. An officer
said the squirrels were about four weeks old, dehydrated and in need of care;
they were taken to a vet.
A sick raccoon was reported at South Ferry but was gone when
police arrived. A Menantic caller told police about a loon with a broken wing.
An officer captured the bird and arranged transport to a vet. An injured owl
was reported in a pool on Little Ram and taken to a rehab facility.
A stray dog was sighted on a West Neck property but it
had returned home next door before police arrived.
AIDED CASES
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service teams
transported five people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on April 7, 8 and 10
and two persons to Southampton Hospital on April 11 and 13. A team put a sling
on an eighth case, a youth, on April 11, but advised the parent to drive to a
walk-in clinic rather than having the youth transported to ELIH where he could
be more susceptible to COVID-19.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
A caller told police on April 14 that an orange flashing light was coming from the back of a Heights property. An officer found a malfunctioning spotlight, removed the bulbs and notified the owner.
On the same day, an officer responded to a fire alarm at a residence on Ram Island and was told that the resident had been having technical difficulty with the alarm system. The Shelter Island Fire Department was notified.
A Hay Beach caller told police on April 14 that on the previous day a person had left a note at the front door, looking for work at the caller’s landscaping company. The caller was advised to contact the person and say she was not looking to hire. An officer spoke to the person and told him not to enter the caller’s property; he apologized and said he did not intend to alarm the caller.
On April 14, a Silver Beach caller reported that someone had walked along his property line, gone onto the deck and then left. An officer searched the area with negative results.
On April 14, police spoke several times to a family member from the city regarding his rights to a family home on Shelter Island.
There were three reports of utility wires down in West Neck, Shorewood and the Center on April 15, 16 and 17 respectively. Utility companies were notified.
A caller reported on April 16 that there was a possible violation of COVID-19 non-essential work guidelines at a Center residence. An officer spoke with the owner, who had workers clearing storm damage; they were wearing masks and keeping the required social distance. The owner was advised, however, that there were restrictions regarding planting and non-maintenance-related landscaping.
An officer responded to a residential alarm in Silver Beach on April 17; the caretaker had entered the wrong pass code.
On April 17, police advised a person not to return to a caller’s residence but to contact a lawyer regarding a civil issue.
An anonymous caller reported an open door at a Heights business on April 17. An officer searched the area and secured the door.
Police confirmed on April 18 that a caller’s license was still listed as suspended with the Department of Motor Vehicles, although the caller said his license had been cleared in Sag Harbor Justice Court.
The Police Department was advised on April 18 by Southold dispatch that a man had fallen overboard and had been rescued by a North Ferry crew. Police determined that the person had fallen off a small boat after hitting a wake on his way to Greenport when he was spotted by the North Ferry. He was in the water for four to five minutes and did not require medical care.
On April 19 a caller reported seeing a neighbor putting a doll’s head on an entrance gate leading into Longview. The caller wanted it removed because it was in poor taste and on public property. Attempts to contact the neighbor were unsuccessful.
Motorcycles were heard traveling at a high rate of speed on Nostrand Parkway on April 19; the area was searched with negative results. On April 20, a caller reported that a person had disposed of household garbage in a Shelter Island Town trash can. The person was contacted and issued a verbal warning.
A Silver Beach owner told police on April 20 that three people were trespassing on his dock. An officer interviewed them and they said they were unaware they were on private property and were just watching the sunset. The resident declined to press charges but wanted a verbal warning issued. They were so advised and left without incident.
In other reports, officers opened a vehicle with the keys locked inside; attended on-line training about law enforcement peer and legal support; assisted a resident in the home; and responded to a lost and found report.
ANIMAL INCIDENTS
A dog at large was reported in the Center on April 14, and was recognized by the officer and returned to its owner, who was advised about town regulations.
A caller reported two dogs running loose on a Center beach on April 15. Although they were gone when an officer arrived, the owner was subsequently contacted and told to keep the dogs leashed. The owner said the dogs had been in his control but he would avoid bringing them back to that location.
A dog lost and at large in Menantic on April 16 was picked up by an officer but had no tags or microchip. The owner contacted police and the dog was returned.
On the 18th, an injured woodchuck was reported on a Center roadway but was found dead when police arrived.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
SUMMONSES
Stephen J. Cummings of Shelter Island was given a ticket on South Ferry Road on April 24 for operating a motorcycle with an invalid license. He was also ticketed for having insufficient lights and no horn.
On April 11, Zachery T. Renault of Shelter Island was issued a summons for operating an ATV on Gardiner’s Bay Drive in violation of limitations for ATV use.
Officers conducted seven traffic stops in the Center, Shell Beach and Menantic on April 22, 24, 25 and 27. Three stops were a result of a case of criminal mischief in Westmoreland where an unidentified person made circles in a field causing damage of less than $250.
OTHER REPORTS
There were four reported violations of New York State Executive Order 202 on essential and non-essential businesses during the week. On April 22, an anonymous caller reported a person selling T-shirts on a sidewalk on Bridge Street. The person was gone when an officer arrived but he found a contact number on a flyer and advised her not to sell the shirts in a public space, suggesting she use the internet or social media.
On the 23rd, a sign providing recommended safety precautions had been taken down from the Heights Post Office. An officer spoke to the postmaster and determined that the sign was removed due to a misunderstanding concerning the placement of a sign within a federal building. He explained that the sign was simply a recommendation, not a mandate for employees. The postmaster said that due to building restrictions the sign could not be placed in the front door or window. However, the sign would be made visible immediately upon entry.
On April 26, an anonymous caller reported a landscaping business was at a Hay Beach location with a bobcat. The caller was concerned the bobcat was being used to plant trees. An officer interviewed the employees who stated they were not planting and were aware of the executive order in effect.
Finally, a caller told police on April 25 that a large group of people at courts in the Center were playing tennis without practicing social distancing or wearing masks. The officer who responded saw a family getting into their van and leaving the location.
On April 21, a caller reported receiving harassing phone calls.
The same day, a caller told police about finding a dinghy tied up in Silver Beach without a town boat permit. An officer was unable to locate the owner and would notify the Highway Department to put the dinghy in the impound lot.
Police were told on April 22 about an email phishing scam and wanted to file a report for information purposes. The caller was advised to change the internet passwords and not to reply or click on any links within the email.
An extra patrol was requested for a Center business and residence on April 23. A caller told police that day that there were many vehicles parked along Route 114, in front of the Mashomack Trail House. Responding officers found that all vehicles were parked legally and that the Mashomack parking lot appeared to be at capacity.
On April 23, a caller reported observing a person walking in and out of STARs Café, yelling and appearing agitated. During an interview with an officer, the person said he was on the phone with his credit card company because his card had been denied. He also told police he was wearing noise canceling headphones that caused him to talk louder. He was advised to lower his voice in public when talking on the phone.
During the week, police assisted two residents in their homes, fingerprinted a person for employment purposes and responded to a lost and found report.
ALARMS
A burglar alarm was set off at a Long View residence on April 21. The owner was inside at the time and had activated the alarm by accident.
A fire alarm went off at a Dering Harbor home on April 21. The owner said she had been having problems with the alarm system.
A caller requested police assistance with an audible alarm at a Long View home on April 22. An officer found a carbon monoxide alarm with a low battery. He removed the alarm and advised the caller to contact Senior Services about replacing the unit.
ANIMAL REPORTS
A dog at large was called in by a Silver Beach resident on April 22 The officer on call picked up the dog, and its owner had also contacted the officer about the missing dog.
A caller told police that a dog in Cartwright had come onto her property on April 24 and went after her smaller dog. Although her dog was not harmed in any way, the officer spoke to the dog’s owner who promised to keep the dog contained.
Police were told on April 24 that a dog had run into her Center yard but the owner’s phone number on the dog tag appeared to have been disconnected. An officer contacted the owner who had already retrieved the dog.
The next day, a small black dog was running at large in the Heights; the owner had picked up the dog before an officer arrived.
A dead fox was reported in Westmoreland and an officer disposed of it on April 26.
AIDED CASES
A Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services team responded to a patient on April 23. The patient’s pain had subsided and no transport was required.
A Greenport man has been arrested by Shelter Island Police Department officers and charged with having a weapon and drug possession.
Travis O. Maker, 38, was taken into custody at 6:30 p.m. Thursday from what police described as a “wooded area” on Shelter Island. Mr. Maker was “found to be with a protected party listed in an Order of Protection to whom he was court-ordered to stay away from.” He was charged with criminal contempt on that charge.
The suspect was subsequently charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and marijuana. He was also found to have an illegal weapon (plastic knuckles) and scales for weighing drugs, police said.
Mr. Maker was detained overnight on Shelter Island and was later arraigned before Suffolk County District Court, police reported, where he was released on his own recognizance and directed to return at a later date.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police
summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against
them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Travis
O. Maker, 38, of Greenport was arrested on April 29 at 6:32 p.m. in a wooded
area of the Island. Following an investigation, police found Mr. Maker with a
person listed in an order of protection. He had previously been ordered by the
court to stay away from the individual. He was charged with criminal contempt
in the 1st degree, criminal use of drug paraphernalia (scales), criminal
possession of a weapon in the 4th degree (plastic knuckles), criminal
possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree and unlawful possession
of marijuana in the 2nd degree.
Mr. Maker was held overnight and then arraigned in Suffolk
County District Court where he was released on his own recognizance and ordered
to return at a later date.
James J. Read III was backing out of the parking lot at Police Department headquarters on April 28 when he hit a parked vehicle belonging to Sean R. Clark. Damage to the passenger-side front of Mr. Read’s vehicle and the driver’s-side front of the parked vehicle exceeded $1,000 in damages.
ALARMS
A residential alarm in Silver Beach was set off on April
28 when the contractor on site was unaware the alarm was active. A water leak
in the basement of a Ram Island home triggered both fire and gas leak alarms on
April 30. The owner notified the caretaker and a plumber about the problem.
On May 1, the Shelter Island Fire Department responded to
a fire alarm in the Heights; it was a false alarm. The next day, a fire alarm
was set off twice at another Heights residence. The new owner will try to put
the alarm on test until a repair can be made.
OTHER REPORTS
A caller told police on April 28 she had received a scam
phone call, stating her grandson had been arrested and needed $7,000 for bail.
She contacted her grandson who was fine, never sent in the money and wanted to
report the scam for information purposes.
Police investigated a possible case of fraud on April 30.
Also on that day, a caller reported the smell of propane and something metallic
burning after cooking. Officers closed the propane valve, noticed burnt residue
on the floor of the oven and advised the Fire Department. It was suggested the
caller air out the house and contact the propane supplier because the gauge was
low.
On May 1, a caller told police a pickup truck was heard
speeding in the Center every day at around 6:45 a.m.; an extra patrol was
requested.
A complaint was received on May 1 about a violation of New
York State Executive Order 202 at a Center brewery. An officer explained to the
employee that no one was permitted to congregate on the property, which was
open for “to-go” items only, nor were people allowed to sit at the outdoor
picnic tables.
A second complaint about Executive Order 202 was received
on May 2 from a person driving on Ram Island who noticed the planting of
shrubs/bushes. An officer responded and interviewed the homeowner who said he
had hired someone, not affiliated with a landscaping company, and was unaware
of the violation. Verbal warnings were issued to both the owner and the
employee.
A caller complained on May 1 that a neighbor was operating
a commercial business on private property in the Center, causing noise from
machines and chain saws. An officer observed a person cutting firewood on the
site and told the caller that woodcutting at 4 p.m. was not unreasonable. The
Building Department was notified with regard to a possible zoning violation.
Two signs on a Center lawn were reported taken on May 2;
the value was over $100.
Police responded to a neighbor dispute regarding property
lines in Silver Beach on May 2.
A caller told police on May 2 that a large party of 20
people in Silver Beach was causing loud noise. Police found only four people at
the residence, who had just returned from sailing; other people had already left.
On May 3, a Cartwright caller reported fuel oil was
leaking in his basement. Police contacted a Piccozzi’s employee who said he
would take care of the problem.
A caller reported on May 4 that every day around 6 or 7 at
night, two men would picnic on a lot in Cartwright, frequently urinate and
expose themselves to surrounding homes. Police were called again when the men
returned. The two were interviewed, advised about the complaint and told to
refrain in the future. They apologized for their actions.
A man walking his dog on the Shelter Island Country Club
golf course on May 4 told police he had startled a man who appeared to be lying
down on the ground but then rode off on a bicycle. Police searched the area
with negative results.
ANIMAL INCIDENTS
A sick fox was reported in the Center on April 28. A
snapping turtle was trapped in a window well in West Neck on May 2. An officer
moved the turtle to the nearest wetland area. An injured robin, unable to fly,
was rescued in Menantic on May 4 and taken to the vet.
In other incidents during the week, police dealt with
three false 911 calls, conducted a well-being check, fingerprinted an
individual for employment purposes, assisted a resident at home and responded
to a lost and found report.
Officers also conducted four traffic stops in West Neck
and the Center on Apr. 28 and 30 and May 2 and 3 — resulting in two warnings.
AIDED CASES
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported three people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on May 1 and 3. A fourth case on May 1 did not require transportation.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
V. R. Felisberto of Central Islip was driving on Manwaring Road on May 8 when he was ticketed for failure to stop at a stop sign. He was also given a summons for aggravated unlicensed operation — a misdemeanor.
On May 9, Nicholas C. Wityk of New York City was stopped by police on North Menantic Road and given four tickets — for failure to keep right, driving an unregistered vehicle, operating without insurance, and for having improper plates.
Distracted driving enforcement and traffic stops were conducted in the Center and Menantic on May 7, 9 and 11, resulting in four tickets and one warning.
Accidents
A minor accident occurred on May 9 when Everest David Wein of Shelter Island was pulling out of a parking space on Grand Avenue in the Heights. His back right bumper hit the license plate bracket of a parked vehicle belonging to Cesar J. Torrealba of Shelter Island. Mr. Wein agreed to pay for the damage to Mr. Torrealba’s vehicle.
Other reports
A caller reported receiving a possibly fraudulent check in the mail on May 5. The same day, police received an anonymous call about a boat at a Silver Beach mooring. The Police Department confirmed that the mooring was legal, in the appropriate location and with a valid town mooring permit.
Police were told about an obstruction in a Center fire lane on May 5, where a concrete parking barrier had been placed at the end of the roadway earlier by workers. The Highway Department was notified.
Two complaints were received on May 7 and 9 that several youths were skateboarding at the skate park. They were advised by officers on both occasions that the skate park was closed and they were not authorized to be there.
An officer noticed a locked vehicle with its lights on parked in the Heights on May 7. Attempts to contact the owner were unsuccessful. On that date, a group of young people were gathered at a beach in Hay Beach. There was no alcohol involved and they were keeping a social distance of at least 6 feet. They were asked to make sure the area was cleaned up before leaving.
Police were notified on May 8 about a possible order of protection violation and a lack of social distancing. An officer confirmed that an order of protection was not in effect and that the caller would need to physically observe that the parties involved were not social distancing in order for the police to issue any warnings.
A small skiff, tied to a dock in West Neck, was reported almost submerged with its outboard half under water. Police contacted the owner on May 9.
A caller told police on May 9 that there was a beach fire at Reel Point on Ram Island. An officer found a small campfire and grill on the beach but the owner had already left.
Police responded to a verbal domestic dispute in the Heights on May 9 and also looked into a case of financial fraud on that day.
On May 10, police received an anonymous report of a gathering of about 10 people in the Heights who were not practicing social distancing, contrary to New York State Executive Order 202. An officer found only one person at the location.
A second Executive Order complaint was received from a caller on May 11 concerning landscapers installing a cement wall in the Center. An officer interviewed the owner who said the workers were only repairing cracks in the wall. The two workers were keeping the appropriate distance from each other and wearing masks.
A caller reported a large amount of water flowing down a West Neck driveway on May 11. An officer notified the owner who said the pool was being drained.
In other incidents during the week, police responded to a false 911 call, opened a vehicle with the keys locked inside, conducted a well-being check and helped a resident in the home.
Animals
Dogs at large in the Center were returned to their owners by officers on May 5 and 9. A lost dog was found in Silver Beach on May 11.
Barking dogs in West Neck were reported on May 7, but no dogs were seen or heard barking when police arrived. An off-duty animal control officer had been in the vicinity for 45 minutes and observed no violations. The owner was reminded that he could be given a summons if the barking violates town code.
A sick fox was reported under a porch in South Ferry; the caller was advised to contact pest control. A baby fox on Ram Island appeared to be in distress, but the area was searched with negative results. An officer responded to a call about a sick raccoon in Hay Beach but was unable to find it.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported two patients to Eastern Long Island Hospital on May 8 and 11; a third call on May 6 did not require an EMS response.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
SUMMONSES
Joseph M. Lupo of Shelter Island was driving on South Midway Road on May 12 when he was stopped by police and given a summons for operating a vehicle with visibility distorted by broken glass.
On May 14, Adam Dunhill of Pelham, N.Y. was issued two tickets on North Ferry Road for having an unregistered trailer and inadequate or no brake lights.
Wendy Monninger of Norton, Mass. was ticketed on South Ferry Road on May 15 for operating a vehicle while using a portable electronic device.
Also on May 15, Kevin M. McCafferty of Shelter Island was stopped on Cobbetts Lane and given two summonses for aggravated unlicensed operation in the 3rd degree and for operating while his registration was suspended/revoked. The next day Mr. McCafferty was stopped again, on North Midway Road, for aggravated unlicensed operation.
Cesar A. Vasquez-Granda of Roselle, N.J. was ticketed on New York Avenue on May 16 for disobeying a traffic control device. On May 17, Christ A. Dimitropoulos of New York City was driving on Brander Parkway when he was issued a summons for failure to stop at a stop sign.
Police conducted 21 distracted driving enforcement and traffic stops in the Center, Menantic, South Ferry, Silver Beach and the Heights between May 12 and 18, resulting in nine tickets and 13 verbal warnings. Two parking tickets in West Neck were also issued to fishermen.
OTHER REPORTS
An anonymous caller told police on May 12 that an unoccupied vehicle had been idling for several hours at a Longview location. When an officer arrived the motor was no longer running and the owner said she had forgotten to turn off the ignition.
On May 13, a caller reported hearing someone yelling, either inside the home or in the backyard. An officer responded, searched the residence and property and found no signs of any criminal activity.
Police heard anonymously on May 14 that young people were skateboarding in the Heights. An officer located three of them, advised them not to skate at that location and talked about safety concerns. On May 17, two young people jumped the fence at the skate park and were skateboarding and playing music. An officer gave them a verbal warning about trespassing and advised them that a return to the park could result in an arrest.
On May 14, a caller asked police to contact the person sending unwanted Facebook messages and to advise the individual to refrain from doing so. An officer contacted the last known number for the suspect with negative results.
Also on the 14th, a person driving by the Recycling Center reported seeing a blue flame coming from the hazmat area. An officer responded and saw flame coming from a torch, mounted on a pole connected to a propane bottle, aimed towards the sky. An employee explained that this was a normal practice and the flame would go out when the bottle was empty.
A residential alarm was set off in the Center on May 14. An incorrect code had been entered by mistake.
A caller reported on May 15 that two vehicles had been parked along a right of way in West Neck for about 10 days. Officers located the owner who said they were parked there due to construction at the residence and lack of parking space.
On May 15, an abandoned trailer was reported parked on Ram Island. The owner was advised to remove it. Also on that day, a caller reported that a person was holding a vehicle at an unknown location. If the vehicle was not returned, the caller would report it as stolen or pursue a grand larceny charge.
A person called police from Hay Beach on May 15 to report his friend was kite-boarding and seemed to be in trouble. An officer saw the kite-boarder in the middle of the channel, struggling and unable to make it to shore. A police marine unit responded and picked up the person. Medical attention was refused.
A West Neck neighbor reported seeing on May 15 an open window shutter and noticed the entry door had been forced open. Police are investigating a case of criminal trespass.
A Ram Island caller told police on May 15 that he had stored his boat and trailer in Greenport for the winter and had noticed now that the trailer plates were missing. He was advised to contact the Southold police since the incident was not within the Shelter Island police’s jurisdiction.
On May 16, police received a report that people were possibly digging shellfish in West Neck; the caller wanted them checked for town permits. An officer interviewed everyone on the beach; no one had shellfish in their possession and all had valid fishing licenses.
A caller complained on May 16 about a large party with loud music in Cartwright. The party was a family gathering; police advised the owner to lower the music.
Police received a report of gunshots in Hay Beach on May 16. The area was canvassed with negative results.
A caller told police on May 17 that two vehicles had parked overnight in Silver Beach with garbage overflowing out of a nearby garbage can. An officer said the vehicles were legally parked and that the Highway Department would remove the garbage. The officer noted that five more vehicles had pulled up and parked legally. All had valid fishing licenses.
Another complaint on May 17 referred to dead fish and garbage on the beach in Silver Beach. An officer did not observe either but checked several fishermen who all had valid licenses and met state regulations for caught fish.
Police responded to a verbal domestic dispute in Menantic on May 17 and followed up on a prior domestic dispute in the Center on May 18.
A caller reported a smell of gas from a service station in the Center on May 18. An employee explained the gas tanks were being filled.
In other reports, police investigated two 911 calls, checked on the well-being of a person, assisted a resident in the home, opened a vehicle with the keys locked inside and responded to a lost and found report.
ANIMAL INCIDENTS
On May 12, a caller reported an osprey nest on a dock in Dering Harbor. An officer advised the caller that ospreys were a species of special concern and the nest could not be disturbed.
Dogs at large was reported in the Center on May 14 and in West Neck on May 18; they were returned to their owners by the responding officers.
On May 15, a caller told police there was an injured eastern blue bird at a Center location. An officer assured the caller that the bird would fly away and later it did, the caller said.
Police received an e-mail on May 17 about a dog in Silver Beach left outside to bark for hours on end. The person was advised to call rather than e-mail the next time that happened.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported four people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on May 12, 13, 16 and 18. EMS teams also responded to two cases on May 12 and 16 where medical attention was refused.
On Sunday, May 24, at 2 p.m., Maria B. Sinchi, 46, of Queens, was arrested and charged with trespassing on private property and refusing to leave, according to police reports.
Ms. Sinchi was instructed to return to Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date and time.
Just after midnight, Monday, May 25, Robert H. Moderelli, 20, of Pelham, N.Y., was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.
Mr. Moderelli was released and instructed to return to Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date and time.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
ARREST
Donna M. Iannelli, 58, of Shelter Island was arrested at 4:11 p.m. on June 2 and charged with criminal possession of stolen property in the 5th degree and petit larceny. She was processed at Police Headquarters, released on a desk appearance ticket and directed to appear in Justice Court at a later date.
SUMMONSES
Bay constables issued four tickets on May 30 and 31 to Clever Guzman of Hyattsville, Md. for taking undersized porgies at Jennings Point; Victor M. Arevalo Sanchen of Bay Shore for not having adequate life preservers on his boat in Gardiners Bay; Pachar Sisalima of Norwalk, Conn. for fishing at Hay Beach without a fishing registration; and Ezequiel Patzan Cuncu of Center Moriches, also without a valid registration for fishing at Highberry Lane.
Barbara E. Pepe of Culver City, Calif. was ticketed for failure to stop at a stop sign.
Daniel F. McCafferty of Shelter Island was given two summonses on June 1 for operating an uninspected vehicle with a suspended/revoked registration.
Also on June 1, Jawahar Singh of Queens received a ticket for aggravated unlicensed operation in the 3rd degree and for driving with a suspended/revoked registration.
Traffic stops and radar enforcement were conducted, resulting in six warnings and four tickets.
Police issued 22 parking tickets during the week.
ACCIDENT
On May 29 Daniel W. Binder told police that he was traveling north on North Ferry Road when a vehicle driven by Kareen D. Hubbard of Peconic approached his vehicle from behind. As Mr. Binder pulled over to the right, he said, Mr. Hubbard went around, causing the passenger-side mirror to hit the metal ladder rack of Mr. Binder’s vehicle. There was minor damage, under $1,000, to Mr. Hubbard’s vehicle.
OTHER REPORTS
A domestic dispute was reported in the Center on May 26. No physical contact or threats were made.
A caller told police on May 26 that people had defecated in the beach grasses at Bootleggers Alley and had left litter on the beach. The responding officer found several piles, located on Silver Beach property, as well as a small amount of garbage.
On May 25 and 26, police received reports of people urinating/defecating on beaches in Silver Beach and Hay Beach. The Police Department said there would be extra patrols and enforcement.
Two reports of domestic disputes were reported in the Heights on May 26.
A boat was reported disabled off Mashomack on May 27 with six people on board. The boat was anchored and everyone had life preservers. Sea Tow was notified and police kept audio and visual contact throughout.
On May 27, the Shelter Island Fire Department (SIFD) responded to a report of a brush fire in the Center. A propane lantern had malfunctioned and ignited in flames on a porch and had been thrown off the porch onto the ground. The SIFD extinguished the fire.
On May 28, a caller reported people skeet shooting off a Ram Island beach. An officer determined that the people were lawfully shooting off the First Causeway and in a direction away from private property.
A Center caller told police on May 28 that a tree being cut down next door was causing her house to shake; she was concerned about damage to the foundation. An officer inspected and saw no reason the tree work affected the house.
On May 28, a downed telephone wire in the Center was called in to Verizon.
A caller on May 29 reported a vehicle in the Center was parked with the engine running for about an hour. An officer interviewed the driver who said he was waiting for his wife who was visiting a friend.
The same day, police received a complaint about people camping on town property in Cartwright. An officer inspected and did not observe anyone there but advised the caller to let police know when the people were there.
Police received a report on May 29 that two vehicles were illegally parked at Silver Beach. No vehicles were there when police responded.
On May 29, police opened an investigation into threatening text messages received by a Hay Beach caller from two anonymous numbers.
On the 29th, a Silver Beach caller reported that a small group had a campfire on the beach. An officer was told the group had been fishing and made a small fire. They were advised not to camp on the beach and to extinguish the fire due to high winds.
During the week, officers regularly checked Silver Beach, Ram Island, West Neck, South Ferry, Bootleggers Alley and Hay Beach, advising people on the beaches, sometimes with an interpreter, to stay below the high water line, remove garbage when leaving, and use portable bathrooms when needed and observe the environmental conservation law.
The SIFD responded to a carbon monoxide alarm in Longview on May 30. The batteries were removed and the house checked with a CO meter with negative results. A second carbon monoxide alarm was set off in Hay Beach on June 1, as a result of a low battery.
Also on May 30, an anonymous caller reported, for information purposes, that a young person was riding a Vespa around town with no license. An officer and bay constable assisted Southold bay constables with locating an unmanned dinghy adrift off Bug Light on May 30.
A Silver Beach homeowner reported an outlet sparking. The SIFD responded and found charred wires in a crawl space. The caller was advised to contact an electrician to fix the wiring.
Gun shots were heard in the Center on May 30; the area was canvassed with negative results. On the 31st, a Silver Beach caller said someone threw an empty liquor bottle onto her property; she requested an extra patrol.
A caller reported on May 31 that two people had fallen out of their kayak off Ram Island and appeared to be in trouble. The two swam to shore and refused medical attention. Neighbors retrieved the kayak and provided transportation for them.
A Menantic caller said she found an arrow on her side porch on May 31; it turned out to be a child’s practice arrow and the area was canvassed with negative results.
On May 31 an anonymous caller said there was loud music in the area of the Vine Street Café. Officers found a small group playing music; they were advised to lower the volume.
On June 1, police investigated a report of an unlicensed driver in the Center. An individual interviewed said he would speak with the operator immediately and was advised about the possible legal repercussions.
ANIMAL REPORTS
A dog at large in the Center was reported stuck in a fenced Center area; she freed herself and returned home. An officer traced another dog loose in the Center through a microchip and notified the owner. A Cartwright caller reported that a neighbor’s dog was trying to escape from a fenced yard. The anonymous caller said the dog was aggressive and wanted that on the record.
A Center caller told police that a neighbor’s dog on his property was harassing him and his dog — an ongoing problem. An officer spoke to the dog’s owner and warned the owner to keep the dog on its own property. Another dog at large in the Center was recognized by the officer, who followed the dog to its home, where it “viciously” barked at a passerby. The owner could not be contacted.
A Silver Beach caller said dogs had been barking continuously for 45 minutes the previous night. The caller was advised to contact police at the time, not after the fact.
A deer was trapped in a Center fenced backyard; an officer herded it out of the yard through an open gate. A possibly injured osprey was reported in the Center. Officers observed two ospreys sitting on separate nests in the area, neither one of which appeared to be in distress.
An officer captured an injured raccoon on Ram Island and transported it to the vet for euthanasia. An injured gosling in Westmoreland was captured and taken to an avian vet.
AIDED CASES
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Service teams transported two people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on May 29 and one to Southampton Hospital on that day. In another incident, there was a lift assist but transportation and medical attention were not necessary; a fifth person refused medical attention.
On Friday, June 5, at 9:15 p.m., Shelter Island Police Department officers made two arrests on trespassing and violating fishing regulations.
Elvis Quintuna, 27, and Hugo Bolivar Sinche-Zhingre, 34, both of Ridgewood, Queens, were arrested and charged with criminal trespass in the 3rd degree. Mr. Quintuna was also charged with fishing without a license.
Police said the two men were arrested after an investigation. They had allegedly entered a private dock illegally to fish, police said.
“The dock was clearly posted and access blocked with a chain,” according to police.
Both men were processed and released on desk appearance tickets, police said, directing their appearance in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrests
Two men from Ridgewood, N.Y., Elvis Quintuna, 27, and Hugo Bolivar Sinche-Zhingre, 34, were arrested at 9:15 p.m. on June 5 and charged with criminal trespass in the 3rd degree. They had entered a private dock in Bootleggers Alley and were fishing. The dock was clearly posted and access was blocked with a chain.
Mr. Quintuna was also charged with fishing without a license.
Both men were processed, released on desk appearance tickets and instructed to appear in Justice Court at a later date.
Summonses
The following received summonses on June 2: David C. Fracapane of Remsenburg was ticketed on South Ferry Road for operating a vehicle with a suspended/revoked registration; Marina Tychinina of Brooklyn for failure to stop at a stop sign on North Ferry Road; and Nicholas O. Robert of Bronxville for not wearing a seatbelt.
Seven tickets were issued on June 3: Gaetano H. Cremoux of New York City for speeding on North Cartwright Road; Quenia L.Soler Carranza for unlicensed operation and operating with a revoked/suspended registration on North Ferry Road; Alex Juncal of East Hampton for unlicensed driving, driving with a portable electronic device in West Neck; and Wendy X. Penado Alvarez of Cutchogue for unlicensed operation on North Ferry Road.
On June 4, summonses were given to Edith W. Urquia-Reyes of Sag Harbor for driving an unregistered vehicle on South Ferry Road; John M. Masten of New York City for failure to stop at a stop sign on West Neck Road; and Katrin Thorman of Shelter Island for driving with a suspended/revoked registration.
Michael Beckman was ticketed on June 5 on Manhanset Road for failure to stop at a stop sign. On June 6, police issued summonses to Ludvin A. Velasquez Ventura of Greenport for unlicensed operation and for driving with a revoked/suspended registration.
William Frabricio of Southampton was stopped on South Ferry Road on June 8 for driving with a portable electronic device and for unlicensed operation.
A Bay constable issued a ticket to Rosalio Camacho on June 7 for fishing without a valid registration in Hay Beach.
Between June 2 and 8, police conducted traffic stops, radar and distracted driving enforcement in the Center, Cartwright and West Neck, resulting in 17 warnings and 16 tickets. Twenty-two parking tickets were issued during the week.
Other reports
During the week, officers patrolled the beaches in Ram Island, West Neck, Silver Beach and Hay Beach, often with an interpreter, to ensure environmental code enforcement and advising people to pick up trash, use the restrooms where available, stay below the high water mark and have legal fishing permits.
A caller reported garbage on a Ram Island beach on June 2; police requested an extra patrol and notified the Highway Department.
Dispatch received a message of a 911 call of a woman screaming on a boat off Hay Beach on June 2. After 20 attempts to reach the caller, police were advised everything was fine.
A caller told police on June 3 that a person driving at a high rate of speed had passed her in Menantic and failed to stop at a stop sign. An officer canvassed the area with negative results. A similar complaint was received in West Neck with the same results.
A civil dispute was reported on June 4.
Police helped Southampton and Sag Harbor police with disturbances in the villages on June 4 and 5 with no problems.
A Center caller reported on a possible carbon monoxide problem on June 4; The Shelter Island Fire Department responded, swept the residence with sensors and found no problems.
On June 5, a Center caller reported that three signs had been thrown into a wooded area. Also on that date, a Silver Beach neighbor complained about trees being cut on his property.
Property damage was reported in the Center on June 6 and debris on a Center roadway was noted.
On June 6, an officer assisted a partially disabled boat to dock in Silver Beach.
In response to a boater’s complaint, an officer located the jet ski that had cut him off in West Neck and advised the operator to keep a safe distance from other boats.
Police received an internet complaint on June 6 and notice of a large tree blocking a West Neck roadway. The same day a violent domestic dispute was reported in Cartwright.
A South Ferry captain reported on June 6 that an overturned hobie cat in the south channel, but it turned upright and was no longer in distress. The same day, an officer saw a disabled boat on a private dock; the owner made the repair and officers assisted in removing the boat from the dock. On the 6th, an officer on patrol noticed garbage on a Center roadway and removed it.
On June 7, police investigated a possible assault that had taken place earlier in the day in the Heights. An ongoing domestic dispute in the Heights was also reported. The same day, police assisted a caller whose boat in South Ferry was disabled and issued a warning about not being registered. A caller also reported smoke coming from a boat east of the Island. Officers and marine units found no signs of smoke but reported that a structure fire in Easthampton could have caused it.
On patrol on June 7, an officer noticed a dinghy on a town landing in Montclair without a permit. The owner was notified and removed the dinghy.
On June 8, a caller reported being shoved by a passing bicyclist in the Center and told to get off the road. An extra patrol was requested.
A complainant told police on June 8 that a person was riding a dirt bike in Menantic for several hours with loud music. Police told the person, who was riding the bike on his own property, about the town code on noise and advised that the hours of operation be limited.
Animals
A dog at large was reported in Cartwright on June 2; it was captured by an officer and returned to its owner. A “howling” dog was reported in a Silver Beach neighborhood on June 7, but could not be located. An anonymous caller reported a barking dog in Cartwright on June 7; the owner retrieved the dog.
An injured bird was reported in Cartwright on June 4, identified by an officer as a fledgling robin; the caller was advised to leave it be. A snapping turtle reported in a Menantic driveway on June 6 was relocated by police to a nearby fresh pond.
An injured hedgehog in the Heights was taken by an officer to the vet on June 6. On June 8, an injured rabbit was reported in the Center; the area was searched unsuccessfully.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported three cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on June 6 and 7. In one case, on June 7, transportation was refused and in another on June 8, medical attention was refused.
