Yearly Archives: 2024

Smithtown West varsity boys and girls soccer champs honored at Suffolk Legislature meeting

by Press Release - January 7, 2024

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Suffolk County Legislators Leslie Kennedy and Rob Trotta recognized the Smithtown West Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer Teams at the December 20, 2023 meeting of the Legislature for winning the Long Island Class AA championship for their respective teams.

This was the first time in the school’s history that both the boys and girls soccer teams won the championship.

Legislators Kennedy and Trotta in commending the students noted that they demonstrated their athletic ability and outstanding team work while their coaches and athletic director have shown the importance of perseverance and commitment.

Wanted for Selden Identity Theft

Police & Fire

by Press Release - January 7, 2024

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Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly used another person’s credit card information to make a purchase at a Selden store in November.

A man allegedly used stolen credit card information to make an online purchase for AirPods from Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza, on November 27. The man then picked them up later that day at approximately 10:10 p.m. and fled the store in a dark blue Honda Accord.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau holds winter coat drive

by Press Release - January 7, 2024

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Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico has announced that the Town’s Youth Bureau will hold its annual INTERFACE Coat Drive from January 8 to February 9 to help residents in need stay warm this winter. Donations of new or gently used clean coats, scarves, hats and gloves in infant to adult sizes can be dropped off at the following locations:

Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville
Brookhaven Highway Department, 1140 Old Town Road, Coram
Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center, 39 Montauk Highway, Blue Point
New Village Recreation Center, 20 Wireless Road, Centereach
Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mount Sinai
Moriches Bay Recreation Center, 313 Frowein Road, Center Moriches
Brookhaven Town Parks and Recreation Department, 286 Hawkins Road, Centereach
Brookhaven Town Vehicle Control Building, 550 North Ocean Avenue, Patchogue
Village of Lake Grove Hall & Rec Center, 980 Hawkins Avenue, Lake Grove

“Many of our residents are going through hard times and may not have proper clothing to keep warm during the winter months,” said Supervisor Panico. “I thank our Youth Bureau for organizing the Coat Drive and I encourage residents to make a donation to help their neighbors in need.

Hours of operation for the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau INTERFACE Program’s Annual Coat Drive are from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. For further information, please contact Josie Lunde at the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau or call at 631-451-8011.

About INTERFACE:

INTERFACE is a partnership between individuals, generous corporate neighbors and the Town of Brookhaven united in a shared effort to give assistance to Brookhaven’s less fortunate residents all year round.

Suffolk D.A.: Coram man pleads guilty to manslaughter in the first degree

by Press Release - January 7, 2024

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Ray Tierney photo (1) — Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney recently announced that Albert Coppedge, 49, of Coram, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, for beating his landlord, 62-year-old Kenneth Mitchell, to death with a dumbbell, and stealing money from his wallet afterwards.

“This defendant’s guilty plea does not take away the pain of the loss that Mr. Mitchell’s friends and loved ones have endured. I hope that this resolution allows them some closure for this horrific act of violence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I want to thank our prosecutors for securing this conviction, as well as the Suffolk County Police Department for their investigation in this case.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on December 6, 2020, shortly after 11 a.m., multiple eyewitnesses saw Coppedge and Mitchell, his landlord, engaged in a verbal altercation in the backyard of their home in Coram. Coppedge was later seen wielding a dumbbell and then repeatedly striking Mitchell in the head while Mitchell was pleading for Coppedge to stop. Coppedge then took Mitchell’s wallet and removed a large sum of cash before fleeing the property. Mitchell was taken to Long Island Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Several hours after the attack, Coppedge returned to the scene where he encountered law enforcement, and he was placed under arrest.

On December 20, 2023, Coppedge pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B felony. Coppedge is due back in court for sentencing on January 26, 2024. Coppedge is being represented by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Scott Aquilino of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

Wanted for Selden petit larceny

Police & Fire

by Press Release - January 7, 2024

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0-11 — Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the woman who allegedly stole from a Selden store in December.

A woman allegedly stole a kitchen aid mixer from Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza, on December 16.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

Wanted for Port Jefferson Station Petit Larceny

Police & Fire

by Press Release - January 7, 2024

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A woman allegedly stole items from Sunoco, located at 240 Terryville Road, on December 16 at approximately 4:30 p.m. She fled in an SUV.

Merchandise swiped from Homesense in Stony Brook

by Press Release - January 6, 2024

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A woman allegedly stole kitchen appliances and seasonal decorations from Homesense, located at 2162 Nesconset Highway, on December 13 at approximately 5:35 p.m. The items were valued at nearly $450.

Wanted for Commack Petit Larceny

Police & Fire

by Press Release - January 6, 2024

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0-5 — Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole merchandise from a Commack store last month.

A man allegedly stole two Hoverboards from Target, located at 98 Veterans Memorial Highway, on December 15 at approximately 11 a.m. The items were valued at $369.

Three men involved in family brawl on Sunrise Highway indicted for assault

Police & Fire

by Press Release - January 6, 2024

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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Jan. 5 that Patrick J. O’Connor, 38, James O’Connor, 19, and a minor, were indicted for alleged Assault in the Second Degree and other related charges for their involvement in a physical altercation they had with other family members that occurred on Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst.

“As alleged, these defendants brazenly began a physical brawl in the middle of Sunrise Highway, putting their family and the public at serious risk of harm,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Fortunately, there were not more serious injuries or casualties that resulted out of this violent feud.”

According to the investigation, on December 17, 2023, Patrick O’Connor and his 32-year-old cousin allegedly had an encounter in a Centereach restaurant. The confrontation escalated and Patrick O’Connor allegedly attempted to strike his cousin with beer bottles.

Three days later, on December 20, 2023, Patrick O’Connor and his cousin saw each other again in Hauppauge. The cousin and his father then got into a white GMC Sierra pickup truck and followed the Ford F-150 pickup truck that Patrick O’Connor was driving.

As both vehicles approached the vicinity of Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst, James O’Connor, Patrick O’Connor’s son, arrived at the same location in a Toyota Tundra with his three younger siblings, ages 16, 12, and 4, in the car. James O’Connor then allegedly rammed the back of the GMC Sierra, causing his own vehicle to flip onto its side. None of the children in the Toyota were injured.

When the cousin and his father exited their GMC Sierra, Patrick O’Connor allegedly began to repeatedly strike the cousin on the head with a wooden stick. James O’Connor allegedly began to assault the cousin while Patrick O’Connor and the minor continued to strike him with the wooden sticks. The cousin’s brother showed up to the scene during the fight and was allegedly similarly assaulted by the defendants. Unrelated civilians intervened, and the defendants, along with the minor children, allegedly fled the scene but were apprehended by members of the Suffolk County Police Department later that day.

The victims were treated at Good Samaritan hospital. One of the victims received staples to his head, suffered two black eyes, and had significant bruising and pain in his shoulder and back. The other suffered an abrasion to his lip, bruising and cuts to his hands, and head and back pain.

James O’Connor was indicted for:

 Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D felonies;
 One count of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
 Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors; and
 One count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a traffic infraction.
Patrick O’Connor was indicted for:

 Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D felonies;
 One count of Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E felony; and
 One count of Menacing in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
The minor was indicted for two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D felonies.

On January 4, 2024, all three defendants were arraigned on the indictment by Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Karen Kerr.

Justice Kerr ordered James O’Connor held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and he was ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on January 23, 2024, and is being represented by Eric Besso, Esq.

Justice Kerr ordered Patrick O’Connor held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and he was ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on January 17, 2024, and is being represented by Emrah Artukmac, Esq.

Justice Kerr ordered the minor held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, and he was ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on January 17, 2024, and is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Maria Troulakis and Jonathan Cappiello of the Major Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective John Caraccia of the Suffolk County Police Department’s First Squad.