Suffolk County Police 5th Squad detectives are investigating a crash that killed a motorcyclist in Holtsville on Saturday, July 24.
Luis Cancio was driving a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas eastbound on Fairview Avenue, attempting to make a left turn onto Country Road 83, when his vehicle was struck by a 2021 Ducati motorcycle traveling southbound on County Road 83 at approximately 11:25 p.m.
The operator of the motorcycle, Frank Shepard, 28, of Mount Sinai, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cancio, 41, of Glen Head, was not injured.
District Attorney Tim Sini (D). File photo by Victoria Espinoza
Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini (D) today announced the indictment of an alleged gang member for Attempted Murder for shooting two victims in Port Jefferson Village.
“This was a senseless act of gun violence committed by a dangerous individual,” Sini said. “Both victims have been left with severe lasting impacts as a result of the shooting. My Office will continue to hold gang members and perpetrators of gun violence accountable.”
Ethan Ladd, 20, is charged with two counts of Attempted Murder, a class B violent felony; two counts of Assault in the First Degree, a class B violent felony; Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a class B violent felony; and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony.
Ladd has been identified by law enforcement as a member of the Just Chasing Money (“JCM”) gang.
At approximately 2 a.m. on June 19, Ladd entered a restaurant near 109 Main Street in Port Jefferson where he encountered a 23-year-old man and a 20-year old man and allegedly became engaged in an argument with one of the men. Ladd, the two men and several other individuals moved to a nearby parking lot where a physical altercation ensued with one of the men.
Ladd allegedly retrieved a .380 caliber handgun from his vehicle and shot one of the men in the abdomen. He then allegedly shot the other man twice in the leg and once in the arm at close range before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital with serious physical injuries.
Following an investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department, Ladd was arrested on June 20.
If convicted of the top counts, Ladd faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.
Ladd was arraigned on the indictment today by Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei.
The People requested that bail be set in the amount of $1 million cash or $5 million bond. The Court transferred bail from Ladd’s arraignment in Suffolk County District Court in the amount of $25,000, which Ladd previously posted.
He is due back in court on Aug. 26 and is being represented by Steven Politi.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty, of the Felony Offense Bureau.
Suffolk County Police 6th Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist in Coram Tuesday morning.
Krista D’Angelis was driving a 2021 Jeep northbound on Route 112, making a left turn into 1650 Route 112, when her vehicle was struck by a 2021 Suzuki motorcycle traveling southbound on Route 112 at 7:34 a.m.
The driver of the Suzuki, Brandon Blades, 32, of Port Jefferson Station, was transported to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson where he was pronounced dead. D’Angelis, 45, of Ronkonkoma, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the 6th Squad at 631-854-8652.
Suffolk County police officers and Wading River Fire Department members rescued a woman who was in distress while swimming in the Long Island Sound in Shoreham on Sunday, July 18.
A woman called 911 to report that her friend, Johanna Scheiber, was swimming in the Long Island Sound and the caller, who was on Shoreham Beach, lost sight of Scheiber at approximately 6:50 a.m.
Marine Bureau Officer Gregory Stroh, 7th Precinct police officers and members of the Aviation Section responded. Seventh Precinct officers interviewed the caller and directed the police helicopter to the search area.
Aviation Section Sergeant John Vahey, Officer David Rosante and Stony Brook University Hospital Flight Paramedic Chris Barnes, who were in the police helicopter, located Scheiber in the water approximately one-mile offshore and Barnes and Rosante dropped floatation devices from the helicopter to the swimmer.
Members of the Wading River Fire Department responded on a boat and transported the victim to shore. Scheiber, 21, of Sayville, was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the assault of a man who was located behind a Port Jefferson Station strip mall on Monday, June 12.
Sixth Precinct officers responded to the rear of 5145 Route 347 at approximately 9:20 a.m. after a 911 caller reported finding an injured man. The man, who detectives determined had been assaulted, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Suffolk County Police arrested four people during a New York State Liquor Authority Inspection at a Port Jefferson bar early Saturday morning.
On July 3, 6th Precinct officers, in conjunction with, New York State Liquor Authority Investigators, Port Jefferson Village Fire Marshal and Port Jefferson Village Constables, conducted an inspection at Barito, located at 201-C Main St. at approximately 12 a.m.
The owner of the bar, Matthew Murray, 40, of Ronkonkoma, was charged with NYS General Business Law: Employing an Unlicensed Security Guards, an unclassified misdemeanor.
Brandon Pressley, 34, of Bellport, Jeremy Marrero 34, of Bellport, and Dustin Mariboe, 32, of Patchogue, all of whom were security guards at the bar, were charged with NYS General Business Law: Unlicensed Security Guard, an unclassified misdemeanor.
There were 348 people in the bar, which was over its capacity of 120 people, and the establishment was closed for the night.
The four men were issued Field Appearance Tickets and will be arraigned at a later date.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Six people were arrested at the start of the holiday weekend in Port Jefferson Station.
Highway Patrol Bureau Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Team (SAFE-T) officers conducted a sobriety checkpoint at the intersection of Route 112 and Hallock Avenue during the overnight hours of July 3 into July 4. from 11:05 p.m. until 2:15 a.m.
The checkpoint was part of an ongoing holiday weekend enforcement initiative targeting alcohol and drug impaired driving. A total of 435 vehicles went through the checkpoint.
The following people were charged with Driving While Intoxicated:
Cesar Ortiz, 32, of 54 Carver Blvd., Bellport
Erik Anderson, 38, of 208 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station
Richard Russo, 61, of 12 Mark St., Port Jefferson Station
Hashim Qayyum, 23, of 619 Hawkins Road, Selden
Alexia Smith, 23, of 3540 Gregg Court, Wantagh
Salvatore Laduca, 58, of 7 Blueberry Ridge Road, Setauket
All six will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on July 4.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
File photo of Blydenburgh County Park by Rita J. Egan
On June 30, Suffolk County Police arrested a man after he stabbed another man at Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown. The stabbing occurred June 30 at approximately 2:35 p.m.
Brian O’Connor allegedly got into an argument and physical altercation with another man at a camp ground at the park. O’Connor went into his vehicle, allegedly retrieved a knife and stabbed the 60-year-old victim. The victim was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fourth Squad detectives charged O’Connor, 62, of Middle Island, with Assault 2nd Degree. He was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on July 1.
Suffolk County corrections officer Candice Ogiejko was killed in a car crash last week. On Monday, members from her department said their goodbyes outside of St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church.
Photo from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of its own.
On Wednesday, June 23, Candice Ogiejko, of Port Jefferson Station, was killed in a car accident while driving in Yaphank just before 9 p.m.
Photo from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office
As one of the departments newest members, the 25-year-old had just completed her second year on the force, working in the Riverhead Correctional Facility.
“The entire staff of the Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of correction officer Candice Ogiejko,” said Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. (D). “Correction officer Ogiejko was just 25 years old and had her entire life and career ahead of her. She will be greatly missed by her loving family, as well as her extended family in law enforcement.”
According to Suffolk County police, Ogiejko was driving a 2019 Dodge Ram northbound on County Road 101, when the vehicle veered toward the center grass median.
When the driver overcorrected, she lost control of the vehicle, which skidded across the lanes and crashed into the northeast corner of Old Dock Road. The vehicle struck curbing, fencing and several large trees before eventually coming to a stop down an embankment near a parking lot, at approximately 8:40 p.m.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D) expressed his condolences on his Facebook page.
Suffolk County corrections officer Candice Ogiejko was killed in a car crash last week. On Monday, members from her department said their goodbyes outside of St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church. Photo from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office
“On behalf of all of the residents of Suffolk County, our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of correction officer Candice Ogiejko,” he wrote.
On Sunday, June 27, a wake was held at Moloney’s Port Jefferson Station Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was held on Monday at St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church, with the burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office lined up in Class A dress uniforms to bid farewell to Ogiejko outside of the church. The Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard served as pallbearers as taps was played on a bugle.
Sometimes there are other events that happen Down Port that require assistance.
Along with the car accidents, fires, and animal rescues, the Port Jefferson Fire Department had to get innovative last week when a 14-year-old girl accidentally got locked in a dressing room.
At approximately 1 p.m. on June 22, Suffolk County Police 6th Precinct officers responded to Kate and Hale, located at 227 Main Street, to help Giavanna Diesso, of Hauppauge, get out of an unusual situation.
Diesso’s mother, Danielle, said that while she was checking out at the counter, Giavanna was finishing inside the dressing room — which nearly a century ago was the First National Bank of Port Jefferson bank vault.
Giavanna Diesso after being saved. Photo from PJFD
When her friend, Ava, 14, left the dressing room, the group joked that they should lock Giavanna in — and her 7-year-old brother Vincent took it literally, giving the door a shove.
“The door shut, and I was terrified,” Danielle said. “I wasn’t sure how long it would take to get her out. I wasn’t sure of the measure they would need to go in order to get her out. I was concerned about air, concerned about her feeling safe, but she maintained such composure. It’s unbelievable.”
The teen stayed cool and collected while the fire department headed inside to assess.
“I was just wondering how long it might take before someone would come to get me out,” Giavanna said.
The department headed into the store, where her family and friends were frantically worried.
“The first arriving rig was our rescue seven, and obviously as soon as they walked in, they realized something was going on,” said third assistant chief Steve Erland.
The team assessed that Giavanna was safe inside and had plenty of oxygen. Then, they got to work.
“Once we knew she had air, we were able to step back and kind of reevaluate, and take the time, to come up with a plan,” he said.
Photo from PJFD
Through the metal door, firefighter Tom Meehan asked the girl to record her surroundings with her iPhone to see how much room they had as they planned a way out.
“She was great,” Meehan said. “She followed directions.”
Ex-chief Brennan Holmes got the air chisel off from the rescue truck to work on the 100-year-old wall. When the first hole was made, he was able to see Giavanna inside, where he was able to assess how big the next opening should be. Through the hole, they handed her a bottle of water and an N95 mask.
With some more chiseling, Holmes and Captain Christian Neubert were able to pull her out — which was caught on film and has since gone viral online.
“This is not something anybody does every day,” Homes said. “But once that first hole was through, and we were able to see her and realize everything was going to work out, it was a great feeling.”
Joined with help from the Terryville Fire Department, Erland said the whole rescue took about 90 minutes.
And considering this type of event is not something firefighters are typically trained for; they were proud of how it all ended up.
“What makes it odd or challenging is this is not something we’ve ever practiced or talked about,” Neubert said. “We’ve never talked about, like, all right … what do we do if we get a girl locked up in a dressing room?”
But with teamwork, the whole procedure went smoothly.
Holmes said the closest training they would typically get in a similar nature would be for a building collapse — so that’s why a plan was needed from the start.
“Having a plan was the big step one because we don’t normally do that,” he said. “But then when it was breaking concrete, we knew that we could do this.”
Cookies sent to the PJFD as a thank you from the Diesso family . Photo by Julianne Mosher
Danielle was happy to have her daughter out and said she will forever be grateful to the Port Jefferson Fire Department.
“First responders certainly are not given the credit and gratitude that they really deserve,” she said. “They leave their families to come across a situation. They’re not even probably 100% sure what they’re getting into so, it’s incredible.”
While the tale of Giavanna and the vault has made national headlines since her Tuesday rescue, Holmes said it was a happy ending.
“It worked out,” he said. “And that’s the best part of the whole story.”
The Port Jefferson Fire Department is always looking for volunteers. If interested, visit them on Facebook or call 631-473-8910.
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