Two arrests top the police blotter for November 9 to 15, a week when a severe storm blew down trees and power lines, damaging vehicles and property; an Islander was in critical condition due to a fall during the cleanup.
[Editor’s note: We’ve reformatted and reissued our SIPD blotter posts as part of a system upgrade]
On Monday, November 15, a volunteer Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services team transported an aided case to the Westmoreland airstrip for medevac by a Suffolk County Police helicopter to University Hospital at Stony Brook. The man apparently was repairing storm-related damage when he fell from a ladder. The police say he was in critical condition.
Arrests
Shortly after noon on Tuesday, November 9, SIPD arrested Joseph M. Governale, 26, of St. James, for trespassing. “The defendant did knowingly enter or remain unlawfully upon a premise where he was hunting,” SIPD Detective/Sergeant Jack H. Thilberg said in a news release.
Governale was processed and released on a desk appearance ticket and directed to appear in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date.
Just before 10 PM on Thursday, November 11, SIPD arrested Oscar Arnulfo Duran-Parada, 27, of Shelter Island, on harassment in the 2nd degree, according to a report by SIPD Sgt. Terrence LeGrady. He was processed, arraigned, and directed to appear in Justice Court at a later date.
Accidents and traffic stops
Peter G. Commons of Shelter Island reported to police that he’d had an accident on November 6 around noon while backing out of his driveway on Gazon Road. He said his foot got caught between the accelerator and brake, and the vehicle went across Gazon and into his neighbor’s fence. When returning to his driveway, he struck a 4″x4″ post that acts as a support beam for his garage roof. The repair estimate is above $1,000 and includes about $900 in damages to the neighbor’s fence.
Amy S. Herzig of Orient reported that while exiting the parking lot at Vine Street Café on November 13 around 8:45 PM, she sideswiped a parked, unoccupied vehicle owned by Catherine Califano of Roslyn. Both cars had damage of over $1,000.
On November 14, around 6 PM, Stefan Silverman of Mt. Pleasant, SC, traveled northbound on North Menantic Road near Daniel Lord Road when a deer ran out and struck his vehicle. Liberty Auto towed the car away. The repair estimate for damage to the front end and right quarter panel exceeds $1,000.
Police stopped and ticketed these drivers as follows:
- John M. DeVito of Mastic Beach on Wednesday, November 10 around 10:20 AM on North Ferry Road for operating a motor vehicle (MV) while using a portable electronic device
- Cruz A. Barcenes Sandoval of Huntington Station on Saturday, November 13 around 9 AM on Valley Road for aggravated unlicensed operation of a MV in the 3rd degree
- Miguel Suret Pixtun of Riverhead on Monday, November 15 around 8:50 AM on West Neck Road for failure to stop at a stop sign
- Ralph S. Mollica of Astoria on Monday, November 15 around 9:45 AM on New York Avenue for speeding 44 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone
In addition, officers issued seven warnings to drivers during traffic stops.
Detailed police blotter for November 9 to 15
Note: This post is based on information provided by the Shelter Island Police Department. Those named have not been convicted of a crime, and charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found not guilty.
Tuesday, November 9
Shelter Island Police Department officers and employees assisted with Stony Brook Southampton Covid-19 Booster POD at the Shelter Island School.
A Menantic caller reported a sick raccoon on a boat; the responding Animal Control Officer (ACO) captured and transported it to a vet for humane euthanasia.
A caller reported that his employees were mowing a Ram Island lawn, and when they returned to the company vehicle parked alongside the road, the driver’s side window glass had shattered. No other damage occurred.
Wednesday, November 10
An officer conducted radar enforcement in the Center and observed no violations. Students in 6th grade had a DARE lesson at the Shelter Island School.
A West Neck caller reported that political signs were missing from a yard, and someone may have attempted to steal yard lamps, too.
The SIPD Detective/Sergeant made neighborhood notifications about a Level 2 sex offender re-establishing residency on Shelter Island. A Silver Beach resident found a kayak washed ashore in front of his residence; SIPD had no reports of similar kayaks missing at this time and moved it to the impound yard.
A Suffolk County PD officer notified SIPD that a case of numerous unwanted calls to an Island resident doesn’t meet the requirements for a criminal charge at this time.
A downed tree limb caused a primary power line to disconnect from a Center residence; an officer notified PSEG and placed traffic cones around the hazard pending repairs.
Thursday, November 11
A Cartwright caller reported that his neighbor planted bushes over the property line. The SIPD Det/Sgt reviewed, completed, and submitted monthly validation reports to the state eJustice system.
A Center caller asked SIPD to check on her home; on her surveillance camera, she saw that her kitchen door blew open. The responding officer secured the door.
Friday, November 12
A HiLo caller reported a sick raccoon; an ACO captured and transported it to a vet for humane euthanasia.
Downed trees caused power outages throughout the West Neck and Silver Beach areas. Multiple utility crews responded to make repairs.
An officer checked a West Neck residence where a burglary alarm sounded and found the premises secure with no signs of criminal activity.
A large branch brought down by high winds caused more than $1,000 in damages to a Center homeowner’s vehicle. The Shelter Island Highway Department (SIHD) cleared storm debris, including a tree blocking a Ram Island roadway.
An officer notified a Ram Island homeowner about a limb blocking the driveway there. In Dering Harbor, police informed PSEG about multiple limbs hanging from primary supply lines (there was no loss of power).
SIEMS transported an aided case to SB/ELIH for further medical attention.
Saturday, November 13
Police responded to a theft of services report about a commercial driver refusing to pay the North Ferry fare. A West Neck caller complained of vehicles speeding and running stop signs; the responding officer advised the caller that SIPD would conduct additional patrols.
Later, an officer conducted radar enforcement in the West Neck area and observed no violations during a period of low traffic volume.
As foul weather blew in, a caller reported a sailboat heading into stormy seas past Crab Creek; the responding officers were able to observe the vessel make it to Port of Egypt without incident.
A downed tree limb blocked a traffic lane on a West Neck roadway; SIHD was on the scene to remove it. Power was out due to downed limbs and utility poles and lines in the Silver Beach area; SIPD notified PSEG for repairs.
A downed tree in the Center blocked traffic in both directions; SIHD removed the obstruction. In Silver Beach, a tree fell, bringing down power lines on a parked and unoccupied rental vehicle, damaging the roof, trunk, glass, and driver’s side panels.
In the Menantic area, a downed tree blocked both lanes on a roadway; SIHD removed it. The Shelter Island Fire Department was called to an alarm at a Center barn apparently caused by a power surge.
Another tree came down on a Center roadway; SIHD removed it. Around 8 PM, high winds caused the flue in a Hay Beach fireplace to close, filling the house with smoke. The SIFD removed the burning embers and aired out the place.
Sunday, November 14
A dog left loose in its Heights home triggered a burglary alarm; the owner said she’d forgotten the dog was inside when she set the alarm.
Monday, November 15
Shelter Island PD assisted another agency in contacting an Island resident regarding a well-being check.
To learn more about the Shelter Island Police Department, visit its website, shelterislandtown.us/shelter-island-police-department. To report an emergency, dial 911 and provide details to the dispatcher. For non-emergency calls, reach SIPD directly at 631-749-0600. Send mail to PO Box 1056, Shelter Island NY 11964.
If you wish to register a compliment or complaint about the SIPD or one of its officers, you can find the complaint policy here and the compliment/complaint form in English at this link. While you may file a compliment or complaint anonymously, doing so means you lose the opportunity to be contacted for more information or to learn of actions taken related to your compliment or complaint. You may also submit compliments/complaints to a member of the Town Board; they serve as Shelter Island’s Police Commissioners. Report complaints of a criminal nature to the Town Attorney (631-749-0027) or the Suffolk County District Attorney (631-853-4161).
Si desea registrar un cumplido o una queja sobre el SIPD o uno de sus funcionarios, puede encontrar la política de quejas aquí y el formulario para cumplidos/quejas en español en este enlace. Si bien puede presentar un cumplido o una queja de forma anónima, hacerlo significa que pierde la oportunidad de ser contactado para obtener más información o conocer las acciones tomadas relacionadas con su cumplido o queja. Los cumplidos/quejas también se pueden enviar a los miembros de la Junta del Pueblo, quienes sirven como Comisionados de Policía de Shelter Island. Las quejas de naturaleza penal pueden presentarse al Fiscal Municipal (631-749-0027) o al Fiscal de Distrito del Condado de Suffolk (631-853-4161).
