Three accidents top the Shelter Island police blotter for August 22 through 28; and SIPD impounded numerous vessels that were stored on Town property without permits.
Accidents
Christine M. Conck-Guelton of New York, NY said she was driving westbound on Smith Street on Friday, August 26 at 7:46 PM when a deer ran into the roadway and struck her vehicle. SIPD estimates the damage is over $1,000.
Around 8:15 PM on Wednesday, August 24, following a police investigation, Magdalena Gleckman of East Hampton admitted to striking a split rail fence at the parking area opposite the ferry office after disembarking a North Ferry vessel. The damage estimate is over $1,000. She parked the damaged vehicle at a Center location to await towing and the responding officer gave her a ride to the South Ferry.
Fredrick Dress of Shelter Island was attempting to park along Grand Avenue on Friday, August 26 when the passenger side of his vehicle hit the front bumper of a parked vehicle owned by Andrew V. Robert of Shelter Island. Damage to both vehicles was under $1,000.
Traffic stops
SIPD stopped and ticketed drivers as follows:
- David S. Morehouse of New York, NY on Tuesday, August 23, 12:25 AM on North Ram Island Drive for uninspected vehicle
- Laura Gentile of New York, NY on Wednesday, August 24, 5:23 PM on Gardiners Bay Drive for inadequate/no stop lamps and unregistered vehicle
- Melissa Timarchi of East Marion on Wednesday, August 24, 6:06 PM on New York Avenue for speeding 44 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone
- Cameron P. Utz of Rocky Point on Saturday, August 27, 3:08 PM on North Menantic Road for speeding 50 mph in a 35-mph zone
- Robert C. Profusek of New York, NY on Sunday, August 28, 5:10 PM on West Neck Road for failure to stop at a stop sign
- Andre Balazs of Staatsburg, NY on Sunday, August 28, 7:02 PM on West Neck Road for failure to stop at a stop sign
- SIPD also issued 24 warnings to drivers and 22 parking tickets.
Marine incidents
A bay constable issued a summons to James Hayden of Sunninghill, South Africa on Saturday, August 27, 1:39 PM off Crescent Beach for insufficient personal flotation devices.
Bay constables issued eight warnings to boaters.
Detailed police blotter for August 22 through 28
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 Those named have not been convicted of a crime, and charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found not guilty.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, August 22
An officer reported for duty at Shelter Island Justice Court. A Cartwright caller reported an injured fawn, it was gone when the animal control officer (ACO) arrived. A Heights caller reported numerous wrong-way drivers on Clinton Avenue; an officer responded but observed no such behavior.
A Cartwright caller reported possible gas leaking from a boat; the responding officer saw a small oil slick. The boat owner said he’d greased the steering system.
A Center caller reported a dog at large; the ACO and owner arrived at the same time. In Longview, a tree fell on a parked vehicle, causing minor damage; the Highway Department removed the tree.
A caretaker called off an emergency response when a false fire alarm sounded at a Center location.
Tuesday, August 23
An officer performing radar enforcement in the Center observed no violations. In Silver Beach, a caller reported the stake and lines from a stake and pulley mooring had been removed. SIPD impounded a Cartwright area canoe and two vessels in South Ferry Hills that were stored on Town property without valid permits.
An officer on patrol encountered a sailboat illegally anchored in West Neck Bay in the area of the HiLo Association; no one was aboard. A burglary alarm sounded at a Heights store; a departing employee accidentally triggered it.
An officer conducted radar enforcement in the Cartwright area and observed no violations.
Wednesday, August 24
Around 2:39 AM, an officer on patrol in Dering Harbor noticed two open doors at a residence and located the owner inside, who said he’d left them open to cool the home. At 5 AM, an officer performing radar enforcement in the Heights issued one verbal warning.
Later, an officer conducting distracted driving enforcement in the Center observed no violations. A Center caller reported his neighbor’s dog was on his property barking and scaring him; SIPD canvassed the area with negative results. An ACO followed up with the caller and the dog owner.
A bay constable on patrol observed a sailboat dragging anchor in West Neck Bay and notified the owner, who secured the vessel. In West Neck Harbor, a bay constable issued a verbal warning to a jet skier for violating Town Code.
In Silver Beach, SIPD impounded a dinghy and a kayak stored on Town Property without valid permits. A Center caller reported a neighbor was feeding wildlife, attracting rodents to the area. An ACO provided the neighbor with information from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation cautioning against feeding wildlife.
Two instances of low-flying planes a few days apart prompted a complaint from a Center caller; SIPD documented the issue and advised the caller to contact the FAA for further information. An officer conducting distracted driving enforcement observed no violations.
A bat got into a Cartwright house; the ACO captured it and released it outdoors. In the Heights, an officer conducting radar enforcement ticketed one driver and issued three verbal warnings. A passerby turned in a found phone.
Concerned about a dog inside a parked vehicle, a caller notified SIPD; the responding officer found the vehicle was on, a window was open and the dog didn’t appear to be distressed. A volunteer Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services team (SIEMS) transported an aided case to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital (SB/ELIH).
Thursday, August 25
SIEMS responded to an aided case; the person refused medical treatment. An officer conducting radar enforcement in the Cartwright area observed no violations.
In the Center, a caller reported that two dogs at large were spooking her horses; the ACO spoke with the owner, requesting the dogs be leashed for everyone’s safety.
A Center caller found an owl on the ground; the responding ACO took it to a vet to be evaluated. Later, the ACO freed three raccoons trapped in a West Neck location.
Around 1:30 PM, a driver filed a report for damages after a pebble flung up by a Highway Department employee weed-whacking on Shore Road hit his passenger side window, splintering the glass.
Bay constables impounded a kayak and paddleboard stored on Town property in the Center without valid permits. A caller reported a derelict dinghy washed ashore at his Center residence; bay constables took it to the Recycling Center for disposal.
A Center caller reported, for information purposes, that an accident occurred 10 days earlier causing more than $1,000 in damage after one vehicle backed into another. The Shelter Island Fire Department confirmed there was no emergency when an automated alarm triggered accidentally in the Center.
A Silver Beach caller reported a sailboat dragging anchor in West Neck Harbor; the responding officer found the owners had been notified and were addressing the problem. A caller reported hearing gunshots in the Center; the responding officer canvassed the area with negative findings and, at the caller’s request, provided information about the safe recreational shooting that’s permitted on Shelter Island.
A Center caller reported finding an arrow in her backyard; the responding officer advised her to call if the incident recurs or if she notices any suspicious activity.
Friday, August 26
Around 4:20 AM, SIFD responded to an alarm at a Heights location; the manager said it was triggered by condensation. In the Heights, a ferry passenger who refused to pay the fare was escorted by SIPD back to the ferry office to make the payment.
A small brush fire in the West Neck area was put out by an employee before SIFD arrived; it was likely started by an improperly discarded cigarette butt. In Silver Beach, a bat got into a house; the ACO couldn’t find it but told the owners to call back if it shows up again.
A Heights caller reported a bird possibly in distress; the ACO identified it as a healthy starling, not yet fully fledged.
Around noon, an officer administered oxygen to an aided case until SIEMS arrived and transported the person to SB/ELIH. Just before 5 PM, SIEMS transported another aided case to SB/ELIH.
A Silver Beach caller reported a Sunfish repeatedly flipping over; the responding bay constable confirmed the sailor was not in distress. A West Neck caller reported jetskis in areas where they’re not permitted; they were gone when SIPD arrived.
A Center caller reported a tree down on primary wires; an officer notified PSEG to make repairs and restore power. A passerby dropped off a found license plate at SIPD HQ; an officer notified the owner to pick it up.
Around 8:03 PM, a Heights caller complained of loud music; a neighbor who was having a party agreed to lower the volume. Around 11 PM, a Center caller reported hearing a gunshot; the responding officer spoke with a utility worker, who also heard a loud bang. The officer canvassed the area with negative results.
An officer on patrol found that a vehicle, lacking a permit to do so, had driven onto a Ram Island beach; the driver moved it.
Saturday, August 27
An officer conducting radar enforcement in the Heights observed no violations. A bay constable advised operators of four vessels in Coecles Harbor to move to the designated anchorage; they complied.
In Hay Beach, a caller reported that a group of young people had left behind a mess on the beach — broken bottles and garbage. The responding officer couldn’t locate the offenders but notified the Highway Department for cleanup.
A caller reported a vessel outside the Coecles Harbor anchorage; it was gone when a bay constable arrived. At a fuel dock in the Heights, a vessel was reported taking on water; a bay constable dewatered the boat, and a marine towing service removed it. SIPD observed no sign of pollutants in the water.
In Smiths Cove, the owner of a sailboat said another vessel anchored too closely, but then called back to say the other boat was moved. SIPD assisted the operator of a disabled boat with anchoring off Conklin Point until a marine towing service arrived.
An officer conducting radar enforcement in the Menantic area issued one ticket and two verbal warnings. In the Center, an officer conducting distracted driving enforcement observed no violations.
SIEMS transported an aided case to SB/ELIH around 5:26 PM, and another around 10:39 PM. In the Center, a caller reported seeing blinking lights; the responding officer canvassed the area with negative results.
Around 11:23 PM, a faulty smoke detector triggered a fire alarm in a Center laundry room.
Sunday, August 28
A bay constable advised operators of six vessels in Coecles Harbor to move to the designated anchorage; all complied. An officer conducting radar enforcement in the Heights observed no violations.
A bay constable issued a warning to jet skiers in Majors Harbor for failing to display registration and for a safety equipment violation. Notified by a Center caller, SIPD requested the Highway Department remove limbs that fell from a maple tree on Town property.
A dog at large was reunited with its owner. A Menantic caller told SIPD a driver had exited a parking area in an erratic manner; the driver said he wasn’t driving erratically. Instead, he was avoiding a confrontation with the caller.
In Silver Beach, a bay constable advised operators of five vessels to relocate to the designated anchorage. A caller reported losing a set of car keys. An officer conducting distracted driving enforcement issued one verbal warning.
Also last week, in checks of the Town Beaches, an ACO reported encountering just one service dog at Crescent Beach.
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 funcionario
