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File photo

*UPDATE* Police said Grady Whidbee, of Terryville, has been located unharmed.

Suffolk County Police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing Terryville man who has dementia.

Grady Whidbee

Police said Grady Whidbee left Woodhaven Adult Home, located at 1350 Route 112, Nov. 6 at around 3:30 p.m. Whidbee is a resident of the facility.

Whidbee, 67, is Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall, approximately 220 pounds with grey hair. He was last seen wearing a blue and red coat and sneakers. He uses a walker.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on Whidbee’s location to call 911 or the 6th Squad at 631-854-8652.

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Suffolk County Police Department

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police 6th Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise from a East Setauket store earlier this year.

A man allegedly stole items from Walmart, located at 3990 Nesconset Highway, Sept. 19 at approximately 12:20 p.m. The man fled in a newer white Subaru, possibly an Impreza Hatchback.

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.

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Photo from Suffolk County Police Department
Photo from Suffolk County Police Department
Photo from Suffolk County Police Department

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police 4th Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate three people who allegedly stole liquor from a Hauppauge store last month.

Two women and a man allegedly stole approximately $700 worth of alcohol from Aqua Vitae Wines and Liquors, located at 597 Route 347, Oct. 27 at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this incident 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.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police said they are investigating a car crash that killed a woman in Hauppauge Monday morning.

Police said Michelle Carpenter, 35 of Selden, was driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix westbound on the Long Island Expressway near exit 53 Oct. 2 when she swerved to avoid traffic that had stopped in front of her. Carpenter lost control of the vehicle, which struck a tree and flipped over in the wooded area off the shoulder at around 8:15 a.m.

Carpenter was transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore where she was pronounced dead. A 4-year-old boy who was in the rear seat was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip for treatment of minor injuries.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the 4th Precinct at 631-854-8452.

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The town’s Chief Fire Marshal Chris Mehrman said small businesses need to think about the fire code with outdoor dining this fall. Photo from Brookhaven Town

As the temperature drops in the fall and into winter, fire departments on Long Island and elsewhere are trying to help restaurants and other businesses remain open outside while ensuring a safe environment for customers.

“The town has gone above and beyond and continues to try to accommodate those businesses to keep them open or get them open, to increase their occupancy load,” said Brookhaven Town Chief Fire Marshal Chris Mehrman. “We have to balance between safety and allowing businesses to operate.”

The fire marshals have been busy, as they try to educate business owners about the safest way to run heaters, as well as to prepare for the coming winter.

Some business owners who don’t typically have outdoor seating or who aren’t aware of the rules regarding heaters and tents have found the rules difficult, particularly amid the strains caused by the pandemic.

As examples, portable heaters are prohibited within five feet of any building and within five feet of any exit or exit discharges. They are also not allowed on any exterior balconies or within any tent, canopy or other membrane structure.

Some business owners “thought they could just do what they needed to do,” Mehrman said. “People don’t realize there are codes and standards that we need to enforce.”

Although there’s no cost, business owners need to understand the process.

“The town has gone to great lengths to make sure they get these COVID-19 accommodations for outdoor dining,” Mehrman said.

The fire department has been working with business owners to help them meet code and permit requirements.

Fire marshals are sometimes taking steps out of order. Merhman said they have arrived at sites and conducted inspections. Even though the business may not have permits, the fire marshals conduct inspections to see if a tent can remain where it is legally.

The marshals have told business owners to submit their application immediately and to obtain an engineer’s certification, so the marshals can legalize the installation.

The town department has streamlined the process. At the same time, fire marshals have focused on the next step in the march towards winter: snow.

While tents offer opportunities to expand restaurants and bars into outdoor space, they need to be able to handle the additional weight.

“We have to ensure that the tents are going to withstand the snow loads,” Mehrman said.

On a small number of occasions, fire marshals have had to order tents down, either because they were improperly installed or because they were not going to be able to meet the state code.

Putting tents up on decks against buildings is a violation of the state code. Businesses have to have a permit for an addition to a building.

Businesses have also improperly used heaters and were ordered to remove them.

“Thankfully, everybody is complying,” Mehrman said. In some cases, the fire marshals need to convince the managers or owners, but marshals are reluctant to issue court appearance tickets.

“We want to achieve compliance, but we want to do it in an appropriate manner,” Mehrman said.

The fire marshals have been checking and rechecking on sites, to ensure safety and compliance.

To accommodate and streamline the process for outdoor dining, the town has created a COVID-19 Dining Accommodation permitting process. The town is offering a one-stop location to submit paperwork for the accommodations, which includes putting up tents.

Residents who have questions about tents, heaters or fire codes can reach out to the marshals at (631) 451-6262 or by email at [email protected].

Mehrman said residents who read the documentation on the web site, fill out the application appropriately and submit it electronically could probably complete the process within a couple of days.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini. File photo by Alex Petroski

U.S. and Suffolk officials announced the indictment of 15 individuals, including several North Shore and Middle Country residents, as part of an alleged drug ring.

Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini (D), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force today announced the indictment, saying all were either part of gangs or were helping to distribute drugs including fentanyl, meth, cocaine and marijuana.

“My Office has made it clear that gangs and drugs have no place in our communities,” Sini said in a release.

The Suffolk DA’s office, DEA and DEA’s Long Island Heroin Task Force began an investigation in the fall of 2019 into alleged drug dealing by several gang members and associates primarily in the Town of Brookhaven. The investigation involved the use of undercover officers, roving surveillance, electronic surveillance, and court authorized eavesdropping. 

Search warrants were executed Sept. 16 at three residential locations in Ronkonkoma, Coram and Central Islip, during which law enforcement recovered approximately 12 grams of crack cocaine, nine grams of fentanyl, 51 grams of methamphetamines, 12 grams of marijuana, and various paraphernalia consistent with drug sales, including cutting agent, packaging materials and a scale. Law enforcement also seized a loaded .22 caliber handgun, a loaded .40 caliber handgun and a loaded .38 caliber revolver from the locations.

On Sept. 29, search warrants were executed at five additional locations in connection with the investigation in Farmingville, Middle Island, Coram and Centereach. Law enforcement recovered approximately 711 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 99 grams of heroin, 109 grams of cocaine, 116 grams of crack cocaine, 18 grams of Oxycodone pills, 12 ounces of marijuana, and various paraphernalia consistent with drug sales, including a hydraulic kilo press, digital scales, and packaging materials. Law enforcement also seized a loaded 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun and a loaded Jennings .22 caliber handgun from the locations.

“This investigation exemplifies the symbiotic relationship between illegal drugs and gun violence,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan in the release. “These arrests emphasize DEA’s commitment to reducing violent crime and reclaiming our communities from menacing drug trafficking networks and gangs.”

Among five individuals from Coram, one person from Central Islip and one person of Middle Island, North Shore and Middle Country residents arrested include:

Angelo Mosquea. a/k/a “Pun,” 30, of Port Jefferson Station, is charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a B felony, and conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony. 

Daniel McIntyre, 36, of Centereach, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled Substance in the third degree, a B felony, and conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony.

Marcus Numa, 36, of Centereach, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, an A felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a B felony; and conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony.

David Torres, 28, of Port Jefferson, is charged with conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony.

Wayne Swedberg, 29, of Rocky Point, is charged with conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony.

Bryan Kalikow, 33, of Kings Park, is charged with conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony.

Michael Hionas, 32, of Port Jefferson Station, is charged with conspiracy in the second degree, a B felony.

An arrest warrant has been issued for one additional defendant in the indictment.

Among others, McIntyre have been identified by law enforcement as alleged members of the Bloods gang. The DA said two other individuals were alleged member of the Latin Kings.

Angelo Mosquea and McIntyre were arraigned on the indictment today by Suffolk County Court Judge Philip Goglas. Others were arraigned on the indictment Oct. 16 by Suffolk County Acting Supreme Court Justice Mark Cohen. The remaining defendants were arraigned on the indictment Oct. 27 by Judge Goglas.

If convicted of the top count, Angelo Mosquea, Hionas and McIntyre each face a maximum sentence of 12 and one-half to 25 years in prison. If convicted of the top count, Numa, Torres, Swedberg and Kalikow each face a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Deirdre Horney, of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.

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Suffolk County Police said two North Shore residents were shot and injured outside an East Patchogue bar early Saturday morning.

Police said a man was escorted from El Buen Ambiente, located at 466 East Main St. in East Patchogue, following an altercation with another patron. The man retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and began shooting, striking two bystanders outside the bar at approximately 1:30 a.m, Oct. 24.

A 39-year-old Lake Grove man, who was shot twice in his legs, was transported to Long Island Community Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. A 26-year-old Northport man, who was struck once in the leg, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The shooter fled in an unknown direction.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the 5thSquad at 631-854-8552 or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.

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Suffolk County Legislator William "Doc" Spencer. File photo

*Updated to include information about actions by the Suffolk County legislature.*

Suffolk County Legislator William “Doc” Spencer (D-Centerport) was arrested Tuesday for allegedly attempting to trade oxycodone for sex.

Spencer, who is a legislator for the 18th district and was in a Suffolk County vehicle at the time of the arrest Oct. 20, allegedly planned to meet a prostitute in the parking lot of a Goodwill store in Elwood to trade sex for the pills, which were reportedly oxycodone, a legal form of an opioid. Authorities had arranged a sting operation.

Spencer, who had two oxycodone pills in his possession at the sting operation, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony, and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony.

Spencer, 53, was arraigned on Wednesday at the John P. Cohalan Jr. Courthouse in Central Islip. The man has been a legislator since 2012 and serves on the county’s opioid task force.

Spencer is due back in court on Feb. 26th. If convicted of the top count, he could face a maximum of up to nine years in prison.

Assistant District Attorneys Kevin Ward and Laura de Oliveira, of the Public Integrity Bureau, are prosecuting the case.

“The message here is that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office will continue to work in partnership with all of the law enforcement agencies operating here on Long Island, including the DEA and members of the Long Island Heroin task Force, to hold criminals accountable no matter who they are or what their walk of life is,” Suffolk DA Tim Sini (D) said in a statement.

“Law enforcement officers follow the evidence and this time, the evidence led to a prominent member of the community,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said in a statement.

Spencer was the chief of otolaryngology at Huntington Hospital. In a statement, a Huntington Hospital spokeswoman said Spencer is “not an employed physician at Huntington Hospital but has privileges as a voluntary physician with his own private practice. His privileges at the hospital have been temporarily suspended pending further investigation.”

Spencer is also Associate Clinical Professor at Stony Brook University Hospital. Spencer has not had medical privileges at Stony Brook University Hospital since 2014, a hospital official said.

Spencer runs a private practice, Long Island Otolaryngology & Pediatric Airway in Huntington.

Suffolk County Republican Committee Chairman Jesse Garcia was quick to jump on the news, calling in a release for Spencer to step down “immediately” as a county legislator.

In a statement, Garcia called Spencer’s alleged actions a violation of his oath as a doctor and elected official.

“This alleged act was an attempt to abuse his position of power and trust, prey on women, and take advantage of those he believed were prisoners of addiction,” Garcia said in a statement. “His legislative record of sponsoring dozens of resolutions focusing on health and drug abuse makes this alleged drug-for-sex trade all the more evil, because he clearly knew the consequences of his behavior on his intended victim.”

Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Rob Calarco issued a statement in response to Spencer’s arrest, saying he has stepped down as Democrat majority leader.

Calarco said, “Legislator Spencer has stepped down from his position as Majority Leader of the Legislature’s Democratic caucus. He is also being removed from his post as chair of the Legislature’s Health Committee which subsequently removes him from any assignments linked to that chairmanship, including serving on the Legislature’s Heroin and Opiate Epidemic Advisory Panel.”

“There is nothing in the law that requires a legislator to resign while charges are pending, and while the allegations against Legislator Spencer are serious, he is entitled to his day in court,” Calarco continued. “My colleagues and I remain focused on continuing the business of the people. The Democratic caucus will convene in the future to select a new Majority Leader, and a new health committee chair will be chosen in due time.”

Spencer is married and has three children.

Prior to his arrest, Spencer had been involved in several legislative efforts, including to combat the effects of the opioid epidemic. Spencer proposed a resolution that passed unanimously to make Narcan, which reverses the effects of narcotics, available to policy emergency responders in the Second Precinct.

Spencer had sponsored 35 resolutions, with close to 1/3 of them related to health and safety, including prohibiting smoking at county beaches and county parks. Spencer’s bills include a 5-cent fee for single use plastic bags, which stores started charging in January, 2018.

During his time in office, Spencer had worked to ban the sale of powdered caffeine to minors, raise the age of selling tobacco products, helped pass a measure to stop companies from manufacturing energy drinks to youth and led a ban on flavored e-cigarettes.

Last fall during the run up to his reelection, Spencer told the Times Beacon Record Newspapers he was committed to finding treatment and addiction solutions for people affected by the opioid crisis.

Spencer won reelection in 2019, defeating Republican Garrett Chelius and Independent Daniel West for a seat in a district representing Huntington, Halesite, Centerport, Northport, East Northport, Cold Spring Harbor, Lloyd Harbor among other towns.

An ordained minister, Spencer serves as the Pastor of Willow Manor Fellowship in Centerport.

Spencer was released on his own recognizance. He has to hand over his passport and a legal firearm.

This story was updated to include details about the number of pills Spencer had in his possession, the specific charges, the potential prison sentence if convicted, the names of the attorneys prosecuting the case, and comments from DA Sini and SCPD Commissioner Hart. The update also indicates that Spencer was released on his own recognizance and that Spencer is no longer the chief of otolaryngology at Huntington Hospital.

This story was updated Oct. 22 to update the statement by Rob Calarco.

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The Greenway Trail runs between Port Jefferson Station and East Setauket. File photo by Rachel Shapiro

Suffolk County Police detectives are investigating an incident during which a woman was attacked by a man while walking on the Port Jefferson Station to Setauket Greenway Trail Tuesday.

Police said a 54-year-old woman was walking on Greenway Trail around a quarter mile from the eastern entrance in Port Jefferson Station, at around 11:30 a.m. Oct. 21 when a man tackled her from behind. The woman was knocked to the ground and the man put his hand over her mouth and made comments that were sexual in nature. The man fled toward the trail entrance when the woman screamed as they were approached by another walker.

The man was described as Black, in his 30s, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and heavyset. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with green sweatpants with a black stripe down the side. The woman was not injured.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the 6th precinct at 631-854-8652 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.

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Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and Arson Section detectives are investigating a fire that killed a man in East Northport. Photo from Google Maps

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and Arson Section detectives are investigating a fire that killed a man in East Northport Oct. 19.

Second Precinct officers were called to 257 4th St. at approximately 6:50 a.m. after a 911 caller reported a fire at the location.

Resident Edward Woiczechowski, 68, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

Woiczechowski’s wife, Cheryl, 62, and son, Robert, 33, who also live at the home, were both transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

A preliminary investigation has determined the cause of the fire to be non-criminal in nature.

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