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Suffolk County D.A. Raymond Tierney

John Murphy Allegedly Attacked a Cellphone Company Employee While Using a Racial Slur

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on June 3 that John Murphy, 41, of Manorville, was indicted on hate crime-related charges, for allegedly attacking a cellphone company employee while using a racial slur and damaging his work vehicle. The defendant is employed as a Detective with the Village of Rockville Centre Police Department.

“The victim in this case was just doing his job, working to improve cellphone service for Suffolk County residents, when the defendant allegedly attacked him and damaged his vehicle,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Even more troubling is that the defendant is a sworn police officer, responsible for protecting the rights of all citizens. The conduct alleged in this indictment will not be tolerated, regardless of what position a defendant holds.”

According to the investigation, on November 3, 2024, the cellphone company employee was driving around the Manorville area inspecting the nearby cellphone towers to ensure the networks were properly transmitting service. At approximately 7:00p.m., while still working, the cellphone company employee drove through the defendant’s neighborhood in his work-issued vehicle, which had a blinking amber light on the roof.

The employee drove around the neighborhood to test the cellphone tower located behind the residential cul-de-sac, and when finished, parked his vehicle at the corner of the street to complete paperwork.

The defendant was alerted by a neighbor of the cellphone company employee’s vehicle and, in response, left his home and approached the employee who was seated in his vehicle. The defendant allegedly questioned the cellphone company employee about his presence on the block, and when the employee tried to show the defendant his identification, the defendant began to yell at the employee. The defendant allegedly put his arm inside the employee’s vehicle through the open window, opened the vehicle door and grabbed the employee’s laptop.

The employee then grabbed the laptop back and the defendant allegedly slammed the vehicle door shut while telling the employee, in sum and substance, “get out of here, we don’t want you or your like in the neighborhood,” and used a racial slur towards the employee. The defendant then allegedly ripped the amber light off of the top of the vehicle and threw it at the employee’s vehicle, breaking the light into pieces. The defendant then allegedly kicked the driver-side door of the vehicle, causing damage. The employee was finally able to drive to safety, and the defendant allegedly picked up the broken amber light and threw it at the vehicle again. The employee drove around the corner and called 9-1-1.

Following the investigation led by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crime Unit, Murphy was arrested on November 13, 2024.

On June 3, 2025, Murphy was arraigned on an indictment before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins for the following charges:

  •   One count of Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, as a Hate Crime, a Class D felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, as a Hate Crime, a Class E felony;and
  •   One count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.If convicted of the top count, the defendant faces up to 2 & 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

These offenses are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, and therefore the defendant was released on his own recognizance. He is being represented by William Petrillo, Esq. and is due back in court on July 23, 2025.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Alyssa Costantino and Tara O’Donnell of the Public Corruption Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Delfina Rivera of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crime Unit.

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Police car stock photo

Suffolk County Police arrested a man on multiple charges in connection to recordings allegedly made at businesses and private residences in Centereach and Selden on June 2.

Kyle Vazquez

Kyle Vazquez dumped a large container of eggs on his head in front of the entrance to Ralph’s Italian Ices, located at 1370 Middle Country Road, Centereach, on the evening of April 29. He then fled the scene in an automobile, leaving eggs and broken shells on the entranceway and front door to the business. The incident was recorded and uploaded to Vazquez’ social media account.

During a follow-up investigation by the Sixth Precinct Investigative Unit, it was determined that Vazquez had recorded and uploaded footage to social media involving other victims at the following locations:

— Wing Wah, a restaurant located at 1970 Middle Country Road, Centereach, where he entered and poured a bucket of beans over his head and onto the floor on April 30 at 8:45 p.m.

— Three separate residences, two in Centereach and one in Selden, where he requested to use the bathroom and then filmed the residents and the inside of their homes without their knowledge or consent while creating a disturbance. These incidents occurred between May 19 and May 24.

Vazquez was arrested at the home of a friend on Holiday Park Drive, Centereach, on June 2 at 8:20 p.m.

Sixth Squad Detectives charged Vazquez, 21, of Coram, with three counts of Dissemination of an Unlawful Surveillance Image 1st Degree, three counts of Unlawful Surveillance 2nd Degree, and two counts of Criminal Tampering. He is being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 3.

If you believe you have been victimized by Vazquez, please contact the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

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Suffolk County Police are investigating an incident  where one man died and another was injured after a dumpster was emptied into a garbage truck on May 29.

Two men were in a dumpster at 108 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack when the dumpster was emptied into a garbage truck, police said. When the truck stopped at William Rogers Middle School, at 97 Old Dock Road in Kings Park, someone saw a person inside the back of the truck around 6:30 a.m. That man, Emilson Hernandez, 21, suffered a leg injury and was brought to Huntington Hospital.

A second man, Eblein Lopez, 45, was then discovered in the truck and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death, but said they don’t believe the man was dead before he was dumped in the truck. They also said it is believed the men were sleeping in the dumpster.

School officials in Kings Park sent a message to parents to assure them that the emergency response at the middle school was “completely unrelated” to the school, that there was no threat to students or staff, and that classes were operating as usual.

 

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Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced on June 2 that a South Setauket man pleaded guilty today to Assault in the First Degree for the repeated abuse of his five-week-old son in January 2024 that caused a subdural hematoma to the baby’s brain that required life-saving surgical intervention.

Vincent Distasi, 33, pleaded guilty today in Suffolk County Court before Judge Richard Ambro to Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony) in satisfaction of the indictment.

The defendant is expected to receive 17 years in prison and five years post release supervision when he is sentenced. NCDA recommended a sentence of 19 years in prison. Distasi is due back in court on August 4, 2025.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office was designated as special prosecutor on this case.

“Vicent Distasi is a sick and angry man who repeatedly beat up on his five-week-old son, filling that child’s first weeks on this earth with pain and violence,” said DA Donnelly. “When Distasi’s shocking, repeated abuse culminated in a near-fatal brain injury to his son and a trip to the emergency room, doctors horrifyingly discovered additional injuries, some already in the stages of healing, that told the full story of the disgusting abuse that this baby endured at the hands of his own father. To this day, the child – now one and a half years old – continues to have medical complications and recently underwent another surgery on his skull to drain fluid in his brain. While he survived his father’s brutal attack, the child’s quality of life remains uncertain. But what is certain is that Distasi will spend nearly two decades in prison for his crimes and will never be a danger to his son again.”

DA Donnelly said that on January 21, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the five-week-old son of defendant Vincent Distasi was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital unresponsive and required emergency brain surgery.

Doctors later determined the child suffered from multiple injuries, including rib fractures, fractures to both arms, and a subdural hematoma to his brain, among other acute injuries.

The infant’s injuries were in various stages of healing indicating that the child had suffered prolonged abuse.

As part of the criminal investigation, Ring video footage was secured from the Distasi home that recorded the family’s living room.

Review of the footage showed the defendant abusing the infant throughout the first five weeks of his life. The video showed the defendant tossing, punching, smacking, and smothering the child over the course of weeks. On January 21, 2024, the defendant violently shook the infant, causing the injuries that resulted in the child’s emergency surgery.

The defendant was arrested on January 29, 2024, outside of Stony Brook University Hospital by members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s 6th Precinct and Special Victims Section.

The case is being prosecuted by Bureau Chief Emma Slane and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Dorfman of the Special Victims Bureau under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Anthony LaPinta, Esq.

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Arline Goldstein with Legislator Rob Trotta. Photo from Leg. Trotta's office

At the annual Jewish American Heritage Celebration on May 7 at the H. Lee Dennison Building, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta recognized Arline Goldstein as the Jewish American Person of Distinction for his legislative district.

Arline Goldstein has a master’s in art and taught art at the Longwood School District for many years. After retiring, she was an instructor at the Smithtown Town Arts Council and later joined its board and served as President.

Through the years, she has organized art events in her community, such as The Backyard Painters, The Art Market with the Smithtown Historical Society, an Art Walk on Lake Avenue in St. James and is one of the founders of the St. James Cultural Arts Center, where she organized drawing and painting workshops. For 10 years, she chaired “Cottages to Castles,” featuring homes on a house tour, followed by a luncheon at Flowerfield, which also had a gift shop. The event raised funds for four local non-profits.

Her artwork has been featured in many publications, and she illustrated the children’s book, “Keeping Time with Jou-Jou.” The Long Island Museum in Stony Brook also showcased her work.

As a member of the Smithtown Rotary, this past winter, she organized “Operation Comfy and Cozy,” with the Smithtown Food Pantry. The community donated over 1,000 pajamas and hundreds of gloves and hats. As a Rotarian, Arline Goldstein strives to improve lives.

For several years, Arline Goldstein served as Legislator Trotta’s representative on the Suffolk County Citizens Advisory Board for the Arts. “It has been a pleasure to know and work with Arline on art related projects, and she has generously shared her knowledge and expertise with so many organizations in her town,” said Legislator Trotta.

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Legislator Steve Englebright, left, congratulates Corey Fischer, center, along with Suffolk County Legislator and Minority Leader Jason Richberg. Photo from Legislator Englebright’s office

Corey Fischer knows what it’s like to be bullied by peers and to lose a close friend. However, these experiences haven’t overshadowed his ability to help others.

Fischer, along with other impressive teenagers from Suffolk County, was recognized by County Executive Ed Romaine (R) and all 18 County Legislators at an event at the H. Lee Dennison Building on Monday, May 12. Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) chose the Ward Melville High School senior to be recognized at the special event.

“We get a chance to see the future at an event like this, and the future looks pretty good,” Englebright said.

When the now 18-year-old was bullied in elementary school, he met Jackson, a boy from Port Jefferson Station, while playing the video game Fortnite online. Soon, they exchanged phone numbers and talked on the phone every day. Jackson battled acute myelogenous leukemia, but despite his diagnosis, he was a strong individual who gave Fischer wise advice and tips whenever the subject of bullying came up.

Jackson beat cancer, but a year later, he relapsed. After a bone marrow transplant, he suffered from Grafts vs. Host Disease. Tragically, Jackson succumbed to the disease at the age of 12.

To remember Jackson, Fischer has honored him by assembling and donating comfort baskets to oncology ward patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, where Jackson was treated. Fischer used grant money and his own to create the packages brimming with special items for patients, such as comfort socks, fidget spinners, coloring books, cards and more. He also founded the Jackson Initiative, which inspired his classmates to join him in creating cards and assembling the baskets.

Currently, Fischer is working with two doctors on a project that he conceptualized, focusing on patients’ mental health. When implemented, children can choose from an assortment of Emotion Cards to place on a whiteboard in their room to make it easier to communicate their feelings to healthcare practitioners.

Fischer will head to college later this year and is planning to enter the field of psychiatry.

“With his extraordinary compassion for his fellow human beings, career success will certainly be part of his future,” Englebright said at the May 12th event. “For being an inspiration to all ages, Corey Fischer is Legislative District 5’s Youth Award recipient for 2025.”

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The New York State Police are warning the public about an ongoing phone spoofing scam in which scammers impersonate members of law enforcement or government agencies in an attempt to solicit sensitive personal information from individuals across New York State and beyond.

According to a press release on May 30, in recent days individuals have reported receiving phone calls from numbers that appear to be legitimate New York State Police phone lines,Callers falsely claiming to be law enforcement officials have demanded personal information such as Social Security numbers and have threatened punitive action against recipients who refuse to comply.

These calls are fraudulent. The New York State Police and other legitimate government agencies will never call individuals and demand sensitive information or threaten arrest or legal action over the phone.

Phone number spoofing is a tactic commonly used by scammers nationwide to make it appear as if calls are coming from trusted agencies. These scams are designed to create confusion and fear, often leading victims to comply with demands or share information that can be used to commit further fraud.

What You Should Do If You Receive a Suspicious Call:

  1. Do not provide any personal information.
  2. Do not send money or make payments under threat.
  3. Hang up immediately—even if the caller ID appears legitimate.
  4. Save any voicemails and record the phone number if possible.
  5. Verify the call by contacting the agency directly using a trusted number.

The New York State Police urge all residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity involving impersonation of law enforcement or government agencies.

 

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Painting by Lyla Petroske
Painting by Lyla Petroske
Painting by Lyla Petroske
Painting by Lyla Petroske
'A Moment with a Stream' by Lyla Petroske

Lyla Petroske, a rising talent in the local art scene, is set to unveil her recent work at Studio 268, located at 268 Main Street in Setauket. Titled The Paintings of Lyla Petroske, the exhibition, opening Saturday, June 7th from 5 to 8 p.m., not only showcases Petroske’s artistic talent but also serves a philanthropic purpose: all proceeds from the show will be donated to Long Island Cares, Inc., The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank.

Utilizing a variety of mediums including pastel, oil paint, printmaking and mixed media, the Port Jefferson resident who attends The Stony Brook School draws inspiration from her fascination with the shapes and color that appear naturally in nature, as well as those of the human form. 

Her featured piece, A Moment with a Stream, is a pastel rendering of a serene scene from the Adirondack Mountains. This work was previously spotlighted at the Reboli Center for Art and History in Stony Brook as part of their Emerging Artist Spotlight, as well as Plein Air Magazine for “Best Plein Air Pastel.” 

A student of Mary Jane van Zeijts of Studio 268 for almost 10 years, Petroske has recently been accepted into the prestigious pre-college art intensive program at NYU, where she will study this July. Additionally, the artist is excited to bring her work to Gallery 90 in Center Moriches this August with nine of her peers.

The decision to donate the exhibition’s proceeds to Long Island Cares reflects Petroske’s concern about addressing food insecurity in her community. Long Island Cares, founded in 1980 by singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, is the region’s first food bank, distributing over 14 million pounds of food annually to nearly 400 partner agencies across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The organization also operates several food pantries and offers programs targeting the root causes of hunger.

Petroske has said that “my ability to fill my life with painting is the biggest blessing, one that I’m often consumed by. I needed to use this exhibit to step out of my bubble and spread love to my struggling neighbors. To be able to paint is a privilege, but to be able to eat is a rudimentary human right.”

In addition to the June 7th opening reception, the exhibition will be open to the public every Sunday of June from 2 to 4 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to view and purchase Petroske’s artwork, with the knowledge that their contributions will support Long Island families in need.

For more information, call 631-220-4529.

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Photo courtesy of Del Vino Vineyards
Gold, silver and bronze medals awarded to Northport-based winery

Del Vino Vineyards of Northport has announced that several of its wines have received top honors at the prestigious 2025 Mid-Atlantic Winemaker Challenge, earning three Gold Medals, one Silver, and one Bronze, further solidifying its position as a leader in premium winemaking on Long Island’s North Shore.

The vineyard’s 2022 Ultimo, 2023 Sauvignon Blanc — Ventola, and 2023 Orange Blossom wines each received Gold Medals in their respective categories. The 2022 Suprema earned a Silver Medal, while the 2023 Pinot Grigio — Bobina was awarded Bronze.

“These awards are a reflection of our team’s passion, precision, and commitment to the craft,” said Joe Evangelista, Head Winemaker at Del Vino Vineyards. “From vineyard to bottle, every detail matters. We’re thrilled to see our Ultimo and Ventola recognized with top honors. 

“It’s especially exciting to see our Orange Blossom recognized—it’s a brand-new varietal we introduced last year, and it was an instant hit during the summer season. As far as we know, we’re the only vineyard on the East Coast producing wine from these grapes,” he added.

“This recognition means everything to us,” said Fred Giachetti, owner of Del Vino Vineyards. “We’ve always believed that Northport could be home to world-class wines, and these awards are a testament to that belief. We’re incredibly grateful to our community, our team, and every guest who supports us year after year.”

The Mid-Atlantic Winemaker Challenge is a blind-tasting competition judged by industry experts and sommeliers, showcasing the best wines from across the region.

Award-winning bottles are now available at the vineyard’s tasting room and can also be enjoyed during regular dining hours.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist in Farmingville on June 1.

Thomas Biglow was driving a 2018 Ford Explorer southbound on Blue Point Road when he attempted to make a left turn onto Pinedale Avenue, colliding with a 2018 Kawasaki Ninja being driven northbound on Blue Point Road at 1:17 p.m.

The operator of the Kawasaki, Brenda Ingraham, 28, of Farmingville, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Biglow, 38, of Patchogue, was transported to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries. There were no other injuries reported.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Anyone with information on this crash is asked to contact Sixth Squad detectives at 631-854-8652.

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