Police & Fire

TD Bank in St. James was robbed on Sunday, Aug. 8. Photo by Rita J. Egan

Shortly after noon on Sunday, Smithtown Public Safety notified residents through its Twitter account and app that the TD Bank on Lake Avenue in St. James was robbed. The bank is open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to the social media post, multiple Suffolk County Police Department units were on the scene.

Residents were asked to avoid the area and to report anyone suspicious in the area.

According to SCPD, a man entered the bank at 12:07 p.m. and allegedly displayed a note demanding cash. The teller complied with the man’s demands and gave him cash from the drawer. The man fled the bank on foot.

The man was described as white, in his mid to late 20s, and approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall. He was wearing a blue jacket, tan shorts, white sneakers and a blue cloth mask.

No arrests have been made.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this robbery to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6553 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.

Post will be updated when more information is made available.

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Suffolk County Police 6th Squad detectives are investigating a crash that killed a man in Miller Place Saturday morning. 

Raoul Rasch was driving a 1934 Ford eastbound on Route 25A, near Panther Path, when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and struck westbound 2004 Ford pickup at 11:34 a.m., on July 31. 

Rasch, 79, of Rocky Point, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Jose Herrera, 54, of Centereach, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with minor injuries.

The Town of Huntington hosted a MADD event July 28 to remind drivers of the '100 Deadliest Days.' Photo by Kimberly Brown

Mothers Against Drunk Driving representatives, Town of Huntington officials and Suffolk County Police Department members gathered at Greenlawn Park on Wednesday, July 28, to bring awareness and prevent the string of fatal collisions in the summer season known as the “100 Deadliest Days.”

The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the most dangerous time for Long Islanders as driving while intoxicated and distracted driving uptick dramatically. Over 7,000 people nationwide died in teen-related collisions from 2010-19 during this time period.

“It’s very simple,” said town Councilman Eugene Cook (R). “Do not drink and do not drive. Call somebody or make arrangements ahead of time. Understand that if you drink and drive, you are not only putting your own life but other lives at risk.”

Two of the members from MADD who joined the conference were Alisa and John McMorris, whose son Andrew was tragically struck by a drunk driver in 2018 while hiking alongside a road in Manorville with his Boy Scout group. Other Scouts were injured by the driver as well.

“Each headline we read, every story we hear, every parent’s eyes that we look into, knowing that there’s no amount of comfort that I can give them because this horrific nature stays with a parent forever,” Alisa McMorris said. “We saw it on the news and thought this happens to other families, but it’s going to happen to you.”

While holding a school portrait of Andrew, the McMorris family pleaded for Long Islanders to be upstanders if they see someone who is about to drink and drive.

One of the goals MADD is trying to put into action is starting federal legislation to stop tragedies such as Andrew’s from happening again.

“This is why our family and the Andrew McMorris Foundation along with MADD are fighting so hard to get drunk driving prevention technology on all new vehicles as soon as possible. Technology exists today that could stop this, and we need the [U.S.] Senate to pass Reduce Impaired Driving for Everyone [Act],​​” Alisa McMorris said.

For more information on MADD visit www.madd.org/new-york.

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Suffolk County Police 6th Squad detectives are investigating the near drowning of a man in a swimming pool in Mount Sinai on Saturday, July 24.

Police officers responded to the residence at 49 North Country Road after a 911 caller reported a man at the bottom of a backyard swimming pool. Sixth Precinct Officer Brian Christopher was first to arrive at the scene. 

Officer Christopher jumped into the pool, removed the victim, and began CPR. 

 The victim, a 33-year-old male, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he is in critical condition.

Frederick J. Gumbus “Pop”, 97 years old of Port Jefferson, died May 9.

He was born May 5, 1924, in Stony Brook, the son of Anetah and Joseph Gumbus.

Fred served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1945 and was stationed in Okinawa. He was a tail gunner who flew a B24 bomber. Fred was a retired machinist – Mill Right for LILCO.  Fred was a 73-year member of the Port Jefferson Fire Department, where he was an ex-captain and honorary chief of Hook and Ladder Company 1.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughters Betty and Carol; his sons Fred Jr, John, Henry and Frank; 12 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and many other family and friends.

His parents along with his wife, Geneva, who was his high school sweetheart, preceded him in death. His son Joseph passed away shortly after.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home May 16. He was afforded full military honors at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. Visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book. 

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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.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks.

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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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.