Two accidents, one involving a pedestrian, top the Shelter Island police blotter for February 7 to 13. SIPD issued 20 tickets for traffic violations, including two for 3rd-degree misdemeanor offenses, and impounded a vehicle.
Accidents
Nicholas L. Merville of Shelter Island told SIPD he was backing out of Congdon Road driveway around 6:40 AM on Thursday, February 10 when, at slow speed, he struck Peter Mokochik of Shelter Island, who was passing by on foot. Mikochik fell backward onto the pavement.
A Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services team (SIEMS) responded and transported Mikochik to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital (SB/ELIH) for treatment of abrasions and further medical evaluation.
Merville said the windows were frosted over and he did not see Mikochik; SIPD ticketed Merville for driving with an obstructed view.
On Sunday, February 13 around 1:53 PM, Nicholas C. Wityk of Manhattan was traveling westbound on Shore Road just past the curve at Rocky Point Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle in snowy conditions, struck a tree, and then, a utility pole. The damage estimate exceeds $1,000.
Tickets and traffic stops
SIPD set up a safety check on Clinton Avenue in the Heights on Thursday, February 10, and issued seven tickets:
- Matthew K. Kast of Shelter Island around 3:15 PM for visibility distorted by broken glass
- David Lozano of Port Jefferson Station around 3:40 PM for visibility distorted by broken glass
- Jaime A. Grijalva of Bayshore around 3:42 PM for driving an unregistered and uninspected motor vehicle
- Leroy J. Boyton of Mastic Beach around 3:50 PM for visibility distorted by broken glass and driving an unregistered motor vehicle
- Kevin A. Cante Pacheco of Greenport around 4:15 PM for improper plates
Also on Thursday, SIPD impounded a vehicle with a temporary Texas tag driven by Hector Geovanny L. Ardon of Greenport on Waverly Place around 4:52 PM. Ardon was ticketed for:
- failure to stop at a stop sign
- being an unlicensed operator
- operating a motor vehicle without insurance
- driving an unregistered motor vehicle
- improper plates
Two drivers were stopped on Saturday, February 12 on North Ferry Road, and ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the 3rd degree, misdemeanor offenses:
- Luis A. Rodas Vasquez of Shelter Island, around 5 PM, and for driving an uninspected motor vehicle
- Michael D. Tryon of Shelter Island, around 7:26 PM, and for failure to stop at a stop sign and driving an unregistered motor vehicle
An officer stopped and ticketed Robert G. Veksler of Brooklyn on Saturday, February 12 around 3:28 PM on New York Avenue for visibility distorted by broken glass. Officers issued seven warnings to drivers during traffic stops.
Detailed police blotter for February 7 to 13
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.
Monday, Feburary 7
An officer conducted court duty at Shelter Island Town Justice Court. A Hay Beach homeowner called SIPD because a worker was on her property to cut down a neighbor’s tree. The responding officer advised the worker to stay off the caller’s property and he complied.
SIEMS transported an aided case to SB/ELIH. An officer provided DARE instruction to 5th graders at Shelter Island School.
An officer conducted distracted driving enforcement in the Menantic area and observed no violations. A cleaning crew accidentally set off a burglary alarm at a Dering Harbor residence.
Tuesday, Feburary 8
Just after midnight, SIEMS transported an aided case to SB/ELIH for further medical attention. SIEMS responded to another call around 7:30 AM.
A Silver Beach caller reported the strong smell of propane. Volunteers from the Shelter Island Fire Department responded and found the propane tank empty. The propane provider was also on the scene. SIPD investigated a report of an open door at a Center residence; there was no sign of criminal activity.
In the Center, a caller reported a found wallet; the responding officer returned it to its owner. An animal control officer (ACO) responded to the veterinary clinic and returned a dog to its owner; a passerby had found it and believed it to be injured. Turns out, it had been taken from its owner’s yard and wasn’t hurt.
A caller requested help at home; the responding officer contacted SIEMS and a team transported the person to SB/ELIH for further evaluation. A caller reported a work incident to SIPD. Around 9 PM, SIPD investigated a report of multiple 911 calls from a Shelter Island location to Southold dispatchers and the Southold PD office. No police action was required.
Wednesday, Feburary 9
A Center caller reported a dog at large; the responding ACO observed that the dog was on its owner’s property. Also in the Center, a caller reported finding a backpack in some thick brush near her residence. An officer provided DARE instruction to 6th graders at Shelter Island School.
SIPD assisted a caller who lost his driver’s license in completing DMV forms.
An officer performed radar enforcement in the Center and observed no violations.
Thursday, Feburary 10
Officers conducted a vehicle safety checkpoint in the Heights, resulting in tickets for seven traffic infractions and one vehicle impound (see details above). SIPD assisted a driver locked out of a vehicle. A caller reported an injured dog in a Center roadway; the responding officer and ACO determined it was not injured, but ill and contacted the owner.
A Center caller reported a squirrel stuck in her house; when the responding officer arrived, the caretaker was already on the scene and opening doors so the critter could escape.
Friday, Feburary 11
A Center caller reported a possible scam involving a call from someone purporting to be setting up delivery and wanting to confirm if someone would be at home.
An officer administered oxygen to an aided case until SIEMS arrived, and then evaluated and transported the person to SB/ELIH for further treatment.
An officer conducted distracted driving enforcement in the Menantic area and observed no violations. Officers deployed cones and conducted traffic control at the funeral home. Construction personnel accidentally set off a fire alarm at a Ram Island property.
A Dering Harbor caller reported safety concerns about a house under demolition; the responding officer found proper construction fencing was in place. An officer on traffic duty observed a person disposing of three bags of trash in a construction dumpster in the Center. The person followed the officer’s instructions to remove the bags and dispose of them at the Town recycling center.
Just before 8 PM, a Center caller complained about lights from the Town basketball court shining in their windows; the responding officer determined that the lights were on a time set to automatically shut off at 10 PM.
Saturday, Feburary 12
A caller requested a well-being check when a person did not turn up as expected; the responding officer found the person well at home and notified the caller there was no cause for alarm.
SIPD officers assisted with a funeral escort.
Sunday, Feburary 13
An officer on patrol notified the Island’s three highway departments of hazardous road conditions due to overnight snowfall.
A caller reported receiving a scam call (see case 22-0017-CS). A caller said he’d departed the Island but couldn’t remember if he closed his garage doors; the responding officer found the doors closed and notified the caller. Kids at a Center residence accidentally triggered a burglary alarm.
An officer notified the three highway departments of continued hazardous conditions due to snow and ice.
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).
