An arrest on multiple counts of animal cruelty and a felony DWI arrest top the police blotter for August 31 to September 6, including a Labor Day weekend with five accidents.
[Editor’s note: We’ve reformatted and reissued our SIPD blotter posts as part of a system upgrade]
On Tuesday, August 31, Stephanie Bucalo, 64, of Shelter Island was arrested on multiple charges of animal cruelty. Last week, SIPD, along with officials from the Suffolk County SPCA, executed a search warrant and removed 18 dogs from her North Ferry Road home. Find details in this Gazette post. She was processed at SIPD HQ and released on an appearance ticket.
Bucalo faces 18 violations of the New York State Agriculture and Markets animal cruelty laws including overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide sustenance. She is also charged with 18 violations of the Town Code for keeping 18 unlicensed dogs.
On Sunday, September 5 around 1:13 PM, an officer following up on a report of a person driving erratically, stopped Hector S. Mateo Pedro, 32, of Shelter Island and arrested him for felony DWI with a prior conviction within 10 years, felony aggravated unlicensed operation in the 1st degree, and seven other charges.
According to the police report, Mateo Pedro refused the standardized field sobriety test. SIPD impounded his vehicle. He was processed and held overnight at SIPD headquarters and arraigned at Shelter Island Justice Court, where he was released on his own recognizance pending a future court date.
The other charges are: circumventing an interlock device, refusing to take a breath test, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle (MV) on a highway, signaling illegally less than 100 feet from a turn, moving from lane unsafely, operating an MV with no license, and operating an MV with no inspection certificate.
Accidents
On Tuesday, August 31 around 5:34 PM, Richard L. Siewert of Manhattan was backing out of a parking space at 110 South Midway when he struck a parked vehicle owned by Judith L. Meringer of Shelter Island, causing damage over $1,000 to both vehicles.
On Friday, September 3 around 7:33 PM, Nelson Bogart of Shelter Island reported that while traveling on North Menantic Road, a small deer ran out and struck his vehicle. The deer, which appeared injured, ran off into a wood area.
Alexandra Heidi Tiul-Tiu Brush of Shelter Island said she was parked in front of 8 Grand Avenue on Saturday, September 4 around 12:49 PM when a silver-colored vehicle backed into her car, causing damage over $1,000. The other driver left the scene.
Also on Saturday, around 1:10 PM, Winifred Chipchase of Melbourne Beach, FL, said she was backing out of a driveway at 78 North Menantic Road when she backed into a parked vehicle owned by Mauricio A. Fronseca of Shelter Island. The repair estimate exceeds $1,000.
On Sunday, September 5 around 1:15 PM, Andre T. Balazs of Staatsburg, NY reported that an unknown vehicle struck his car while it was parked and unoccupied at his Sunset Beach Hotel at 37 Shore Road causing damage in excess of $1,000.
Around 3:22 PM on Sunday on Jaspa Road, Nadezhda Pryadko of Manhattan said she backed her car into a parked vehicle owned by Thomas Lisi of Manhattan causing damage over $1,000.
Tickets
SIPD officers stopped and ticketed these drivers as follows:
- Peter D. Williams of Brooklyn on Friday, September 4 around 4:29 PM on St. Mary’s Road for failure to stop at a stop sign
- Zqhuruddin Asadi of Hicksville on Monday, September 6 around 9:57 PM on St. Mary’s Road for no/insufficient tail lamps
In addition, officers issued 11 warnings to drivers during traffic stops.
Bay constables issued summonses as follows:
- Andrew M. Axelrod of Manhattan on Saturday, September 5 around 12:25 PM while boating in Dering Habor for having a child aboard under age 12 not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) (and a warning for an unregistered vessel)
- Luis Rodriguez of Brentwood on Saturday, Setpember 5 around 9:17 AM while fishing at Section 9 for keeping short porgies
- Charles P. Cheyney of Brooklyn on Sunday, September 6 was stopped while operating a JetSki in waters off Crescent Beach and ticketed him for having no safety certificate (and warnings for no distress flag, no registration on board, and operating near a swim area)
- Bruce Matthew of Riverhead on Sunday, September 6 around 1:55 PM while boating in waters off Crescent Beach for failure to display numbers (and a warning for not displaying a registration)
- Erik Leyden of North Palm Beach on Saturday, September 5 around 2:42 PM while boating in waters off Crescent Beach for having insufficient PFDs for his seven passengers
Detailed police blotter for August 31 to September 6
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, August 31
A Heights caller reported a sick raccoon; an Animal Control Officer (ACO) searched the area unsuccessfully; later in the West Neck area the ACO captured sick raccoons in the West Neck and Hay Beach areas and transported them to a vet for humane euthanasia.
A Montclair caller reported two vessels on moorings too close to each other; the responding officer notified the boat owner. A volunteer Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services team (SIEMS) responded to an aided case, but the person refused medical attention.
A caller reported a driver who appeared to be drinking alcohol in his vehicle aboard a North Ferry; the responding officer found no vehicle matching the description exiting the ferry. Around 7 PM, a caller reported a lost dog; an ACO found the dog and returned it to the owner.
SIPD assisted with traffic control during a vigil in the Center for victims of drug overdoses. A Heights caller reported a parked car sounding an alarm; it deactivated after the police arrived.
Wednesday, September 1
An officer assisted a driver locked out of a vehicle.
Thursday, September 2
Around 3 AM, a caller reported a hanging tree limb blocking a Center roadway; the responding officer set cones around the hazard and notified the Shelter Island Highway Department for removal. Later, an officer on patrol found another tree down blocking a Center road and followed the same procedure. And again, when a Ram Island tree came down blocking a road.
Stormy weather overnight also brought down wires in the Menantic area; SIPD notified PSEG. In the morning, a caller reported a boat missing from Pipe’s Cove; he said it may have washed ashore on Shelter Island. A boat sank near the Perlman Music Program dock. And a Cartwright caller reported finding a set of oars washed ashore.
A Center caller reported losing a cellphone. An officer followed up on a previously reported incident. A caller notified SIPD that believed his computer and phone may have been the target of hacking; the responding officer suggested changing passwords, purchasing a new phone, and installing security cameras at his residence.
One caller reported losing a wallet and moments later, another reported finding the wallet.
Friday, September 3
A West Neck caller said a neighbor had moved and left cats behind; an ACO contacted the owner. A little later, a caller reported a dog at large in the Center and the ACO searched but didn’t find it. An officer administered oxygen to an aided case until a SIEMS team responded and transported the person to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital (SB/ELIH).
An officer spoke with an individual about a traffic incident. An officer conducted distracted driving enforcement in the West Neck area and observed no violations. A caller reported finding paddleboards washed ashore; an officer stowed them at the impound yard for safekeeping.
A caller reported lost license plates. In Hay Beach, a beachgoer found a large rusty machete. No dogs were found on Wades Beach during ACO patrols. After a person was observed urinating on a beach, an officer conducted a traffic stop — both the driver and passenger denied engaging in the reported conduct.
A Hay Beach caller reported a sick raccoon; an ACO searched the area unsuccessfully. Around 7:10 PM, a caller complained about loud music from the Shipwreck Bar at SALT Waterfront Bar & Grill. The responding officer found the sound level to be reasonable but notified the bar owner who said the band would be done at 8 PM.
Officers were called to a residence where a person had died of natural causes.
A Hay Beach caller reported a sick raccoon on a deck; an ACO found the animal to be healthy and was likely drawn to the site by BBQ aromas. A Silver Beach caller reported fireworks on a beach around 9:30 PM; by the time an officer arrive the beachgoers said they’d fired off all their fireworks and were done for the night.
A Menantic caller reported two people were arguing in a roadway; the responding officer canvassed the area with negative results.
Saturday, September 4
An officer helped a driver locked out of a vehicle. A Hay Beach caller reported a sick raccoon; an ACO found the animal under a shed but couldn’t reach it. An officer assisted a cyclist who fell but refused medical attention. Bay constables followed up on a complaint about loud music from a boat anchored off Mashomack.
In the Silver Beach area, a homeowner complained that people were on his beach property above signs that marked mean high tide; the responding officer asked the people to move below the line and they did. An officer couldn’t contact the owner of an item found by someone working in the Center.
Bay constables advised nine boat owners anchored outside the West Neck anchorage to relocate; they did. In waters off the Heights, a bay constable stopped a boat with children aboard not wearing personal flotation devices; as the kids donned their PFDs, the constable issued a verbal warning to the operator.
Around 5 PM, a Center caller reported two youths drinking in the woods; the responding officer said they did not appear intoxicated and agreed to leave. SIPD contacted the owner of a Boston whaler that drifted off and got stuck under a Ram Island dock. A Center caller reported a possible domestic incident.
Around 7 PM, a Heights caller complained about noise from a boat anchored close to shore; it was gone by the time an officer arrived. A Hay Beach caller reported a sick raccoon; an ACO captured and transported it to a vet for humane euthanasia. SIEMS responded to an aided case, but the person refused medical attention.
Police responded to two 911 hangup calls; one caller dialed accidentally, the other led back to an out-of-service number. SIPD followed up on a call about someone at the Town Recycling Center after hours and found no problems. A caller said a woman in a car leaving Ram Island was screaming; SIPD canvassed the area but found nothing amiss.
Sunday, September 5
Around 8 AM, a caller phoned SIPD to say intoxicated people had been making noise around 2 AM on a boat anchored off Ram Island.
Bay constables conducted Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) patrols and issued a ticket for keeping short porgies (see above).
While on beach patrol, an ACO found no dogs on Crescent Beach in the morning but issued a verbal warning to a dog owner at midday. A Center caller complained about a dog that runs loose on his property and a neighboring preserve; the responding officer advised him to call when the dog is on his property so SIPD can take proper action.
Bay constables canvassed the waters off Mashomack Preserve after a caller reported topless women aboard a vessel in Coecles Harbor. A Heights caller found a dog; the owner retrieved it before an ACO arrived.
A Hay Beach caller reported a sick raccoon; an ACO captured and transported it to a vet for humane euthanasia. A CO alarm sounded at a HiLo residence; SIFD Chief Reiter tested but found no positive readings for carbon monoxide and declared a false alarm. A West Neck passerby reported concern for a sailor who left shore in the dark; the responding officer contact the sailor’s home where his mother said she’d just spoken with him and he was returning to shore.
Around 9 PM, the power went out in the West Neck area; PSEG was working on repairs. A caller reported hearing gunshots in the Silver Beach area; the responding officer canvassed the area with negative results. A caller complained of loud music from a West Neck location around 11:15 PM, the manager said he’d turn the volume down. The caller said the volume went up as soon as SIPD left the site, but the responding officer listened from the caller’s location and could not hear the music.
Monday, September 6
Just after midnight, a caller reported loud music in the Silver Beach area; the responding officer said the person responsible agreed to turn it off. During an ECL check at Hiberry Lane, an officer found four people fishing and no violations.
After a faulty sensor triggered multiple false alarms from a Center residence, the caretaker agreed to arrange repairs. An officer completed a suspected drug overdose report as part of a Suffolk County Police Department investigation.
A Silver Beach caller reported a sick raccoon; an ACO captured and transported it to a vet for humane euthanasia. A caller asked SIPD to notify parents of juveniles seen walking in Center woods.
SIPD located a child reported missing around 4:30 PM in Shorewood. A passerby reported a motionless raccoon in a Hay Beach roadway; when an officer approached, the animal ran off into nearby woods.
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).
