Suffolk County police have arrested a man for allegedly driving while ability impaired after his vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian in South Huntington April 7.
David R. Thompson was operating a 2014 Chevrolet Equinox eastbound on Jericho Turnpike at approximately 9:30 p.m. when his vehicle struck a pedestrian who was attempting to cross Jericho Turnpike at Oakwood Road in South Huntington.
The pedestrian, Anthony J. Santiago, 54, of Huntington Station, was transported by Huntington Community First Aid Squad to Huntington Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Thompson, 75, of Huntington, was arrested and charged with driving while ability impaired. He is being held at the 2nd Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip.
The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. The investigation is ongoing. Detectives are asking anyone with information about the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.
The remains of the historic Ebo Hill mansion in Smithtown after the March 26 fire. Photo by Rita J. Egan
By Sara-Megan Walsh
The owner of a historic Smithtown property destroyed by a fire last week is wasting no time in brushing himself off, picking up the pieces and promising the Ebo Hill mansion will rise again.
Richard Albano, owner of Richie’s Pizza of Commack and Deer Park, has publicly promised Smithtown residents that he plans to rebuild the historic building that was burned to its studs March 26.
The new owner of the three-story house, once owned by descendants of the town founder Richard Smyth, said he had been burning scraps to provide heat as he and his crew worked on renovations. The last piece of wood was put into the fireplace at approximately 3 p.m., according to Albano, adding only embers remained when he left for the day at around 5:15 p.m.
“If I had a penny for everyone who asked me why I lit the fireplace,” Albano said.
“If I had a penny for everyone who asked me why I lit the fireplace.”
— Richard Albano
Albano said a worker was in the rear of the building when he heard a popping noise and found the fireplace mantle was on fire. The worker grabbed a fire extinguisher and used it to douse the flames, according to Albano. The worker then heard a crackling noise coming from upstairs and discovered the second story of the building was engulfed in the blaze.
Smithtown Fire Department received a call at 7:56 p.m. March 26 reporting a structure fire on Edgewood Avenue in Smithtown, according to Jeff Bressler, a spokesman for the fire department. Albano said the call was made by a neighbor, who immediately called him.
“When I pulled out of my driveway, I saw the whole sky was lit up from the flames,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything catch fire so quickly and spread so quickly. It’s not even imaginable.”
Hundreds of firefighters from Smithtown, Commack, Hauppauge, Nesconset, Nissequogue and St. James responded to the scene but were unable to enter the building.
Albano said he later learned there was a crack in the chimney on the second floor that when heated, expanded, allowing an ember or spark to slip through, which is what he believes lit the wood floor.
“There’s got to be a reason why,” the owner said. “The only thing I can think of is this would have happened after the house was complete. My family wasn’t in there. The house wasn’t completely redone. It could have been a lot worse.”
Firefighters respond to Ebo Hill mansion fire March 26. Photo from Facebook
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Suffolk County’s arson squad and Town of Smithtown fire marshals, but no findings were available as of press time. A full investigation may take up to a month to complete.
Albano said he received more than 2,000 messages on the Facebook page he set up to keep residents up to date with the renovations to the historic home, offering both help and encouragement to rebuild. Several GoFundMe campaigns were started by neighbors, according to Albano, but he’s requested they be discontinued and refunds given.
“The wound is still too open,” he said. “It’s too soon.”
Albano said he didn’t have any homeowner’s insurance to cover the damage because he wasn’t able to live in the house yet. He did take out a builder’s risk policy, which he hopes will provide some funds to rebuild.
“It will probably be a few months before I know, but I hope to be back in the construction phase in six weeks,” he said.
“We didn’t think after meeting with him that his intentions to rebuild were anything other than genuine.” — Nicole Garguilo
The owner obtained 1908 floor plans of the house from Smithtown Public Library and consulted with several architects to prepare plans. He hopes to choose an architect to work with within a week, submit building plans to the town and get his building permits. He’s already met with Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) and other town officials to discuss his plans.
“He’s looking at a tax assessment increase — he’s looking at a loss, not a gain,” said town spokeswoman Nicole Garguilo. “We didn’t think after meeting with him that his intentions to rebuild were anything other than genuine.”
While he may have a long road ahead of him, Albano said he’s upset over the numerous artifacts destroyed by the blaze.
“The room that caught fire was filled with things I would have loved to have, stupid things like a pogo stick from 1969,” he said.
A few items that he managed to save because they were in storage include a turn-of-the-century needlepoint of a Christian hymnal verse and the original weather vane.
“I fell in love with the mansion,” Albano said. “I have a lot of passion in me and I connected with the house dearly. It will rise again.”
See more photos of the March 26 fire at Ebo Hill Mansion here.
CVS on Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson Station. Image from Google Maps
A Port Jefferson Station pharmacy was robbed at gunpoint April 3, according to Suffolk County police.
Three armed men allegedly entered CVS located at 4331 Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson Station at about 3:40 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, with guns and wearing ski masks, restrained at least one employee and stole money and narcotics from the store, police said. No one was injured during the robbery, police said. Suffolk County Major Case Unit detectives are investigating the incident.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call 631-852-8555 or contact Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential.
Two Suffolk County police officers were injured rescuing a dog from an East Northport fire. Photo from SCPD
By Sara-Megan Walsh
Two Suffolk County police officers were injured after entering a burning home in East Northport to rescue a dog.
Gucci, a 5-year-old Pomeranian, was saved from a Northport home that went up in flames. Photo from SCPD
Officers Joseph Barra and Stephen Caratozzolo responded to the home, located on Meadow Rue Lane, at approximately 1:45 p.m. March 30. As they were circling the fully engulfed house looking for victims, the officers observed a dog through a rear window. The officers entered the burning home through a rear door and rescued the 5-year-old Pomeranian mix named Gucci.
The officers suffered smoke inhalation and were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital by East Northport Fire Department ambulance where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Gucci is expected to survive.
Arson section detectives are investigating the fire.
Two men are wanted by Suffolk County police for allegedly assaulting a man in Huntington. Photo from SCPD
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and 2nd Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two men who allegedly assaulted another man in Huntington this month.
A man was allegedly assaulted in front of of Nag’s Head Ale House, located at 396 New York Ave., March 18 at 1 a.m. The alleged suspects are described as white, in their 20s. One suspect was said to be approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall with brown hair. The other suspect was approximately 6 feet tall with blonde hair.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about the incident can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS (8477), texting “SCPD” and your message to “CRIMES” (274637) or by sending an email at www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Historic property once owned by the town's founding family burnt down to studs
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Firefighters respond to Ebo Hill mansion fire March 26. Photo from Facebook
Firefighters respond to a fire at Smithtown's Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
Firefighters respond to a fire at Smithtown's Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
The remains of Smithtown's historic Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
Firefighters respond to a fire at Smithtown's Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
Firefighters respond to a fire at Smithtown's Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
Firefighters respond to a fire at Smithtown's historic Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
The remains of Smithtown's historic Ebo Hill Mansion. Photo from Facebook.
Firefighters respond to a fire at Smithtown's Ebo Hill mansion March 26. Photo from Facebook
The remains of Ebo Hill mansion after the March 26 fire. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A historic Smithtown mansion once inhabited by the descendants of founder Richard Smythe burned down to its studs Monday night, according to St. James Fire Department.
Suffolk County police received a call at 7:56 p.m. March 26 reporting a fully involved house fire on Edgewood Avenue in Smithtown, according to Kevin Barattini, spokesman for St. James Fire Department.
Smithtown Fire Department was first to respond to the scene and immediately reached out for mutual aid from Hauppauge, Kings Park, Nesconset, Nissequogue and St. James fire departments. The historic mansion was fully engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived, according to Barattini, leaving them unable to enter the building.
“You could see this fire for miles,” he said. “It was amazing, that thing was glowing.”
The new owner said the fire was heartbreaking, and was unable to talk about it any further Tuesday morning.
“I’m absolutely devastated.”
— Richard Albano
Albano began extensive renovations of the more than 11,000-square-foot mansion earlier this year after receiving permission from the previous owner to get started before the sale was final. The home’s 16 bedrooms, two kitchens, master ballroom, and numerous bathrooms had fallen into disrepair, but still contained many of the original fixtures, according to Albano.
“I feel a lot of passion for this home,” he told TBR News Media March 13. “I’m working on it every day, restoring it. My goal is to make it look as it was when it was brand new.”
According to “Colonel Rockwell’s Scrap-book,” published by the Smithtown Historical Society in 1968, the house was built around 1846. It once belonged to Obadiah Smith, a great-grandson of Smythe, before eventually becoming the homestead to Ethelbert Marshall Smith, another Smythe descendent, in 1877.
Albano had posted March 19 on Facebook that “the restoration is going great and today seemed like it was the [first] day that it felt as things were going back together instead of taking things apart.” He was preparing to install a new roof on the building.
“It’s very unfortunate as you have a guy who was restoring this property and you look forward to seeing it when you pass by it every day,” Barattini said.
The new owner had said he hoped to open the historic mansion for the public to view once it was fully restored. Though Albano has been purchasing, renovating and reselling properties for decades, he said his intention was to live in the Ebo Hill mansion once the project was completed.
There was no reported injuries and the fire is under investigation for unknown causes at this time.
Suffolk County police 4th Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a man in Hauppauge March 24.
Ruben Ferreira was driving a 2007 Nissan Murano northbound on Joshuas Path when his vehicle crashed head-on into a 2013 Mercedes Benz van driven by Kenneth Cluen, who was traveling southbound on Joshuas Path at approximately 5:45 a.m.
Ferreira, 69, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the office of the Suffolk County medical examiner. Cluen, 31, of Farmingville was transported to Southside Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating a murder-suicide that occurred at a Stony Brook home.
Sixth Precinct officers were called to Pembrook Drive after a family member of the residents called 911 to report the discovery of two deceased adults at the location.
Following an investigation, it was determined Raymond Foster, 79, shot his wife, Sandra, 78, and then shot himself, according to Suffolk County police. The two were pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.
Kids get their heads shaved at the annual St. Baldrick's event at Centereach Fire Department March 16. Photo by Doug Dickerson
By Kyle Barr
On the night before St. Patrick’s Day, hair rained down onto the floor of Centereach Fire Department. People clapped and cheered as blonde, brown and even green-dyed hair fell from amused faces before being swept away during the annual St. Baldrick’s charity event to raise money for childhood cancer research March 16.
Area local Aimee Jackson watched her teenage son Zachary get shaved, the first head of the night to go bald. It was his fourth time participating, and every year the duo has tried to raise more and more money.
“The first time he did it he was little — 5 years old — we both did it,” she said. “He’s shaving in honor of his twin brother, Kendall, who passed away just before their fifth birthday.”
Zachary Jackson has his head shaved in honor of his twin brother, Kendall, who died of cancer at age 4. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Middle Country Youth Civic Association and Centereach Fire Department joined with local sponsors to host the fourth annual event. Before the buzzer even started sounding, the team of brave bald-headed
community members raised close to $30,000. By Monday, the event had raised over $47,000, close to twice the original $25,000 goal, according to event organizer Doug Dickson. The largest donor was 12-year-old Austin Vero, who raised over $15,000 alone.
“Thank God for our barbers — with all the hair on the ground, they bring their own guys, they’re sweeping all the time,” Dickson said, laughingly.
The night was full of Irish flavor with the inclusion of FDNY Emerald Society bagpipers and Irish step dancers from Mulvihill-Lynch Studio of Irish Dance in Lake Ronkonkoma. Attendees were decked in green from head to toe, including Rob “Squid” Wilson, who was one of many prospective head-shavers to dye their hair green.
Wilson has been hosting local St. Baldrick’s events for 16 years. This year, he dressed in a bright green shamrock coat and a green tiara.
“My team is the Squid and the Squires,” Wilson said. “Each team is a bunch of clowns like us who are doing it for the right reasons.”
He and his friend Tom Duffy have been involved and shaved their heads every year since their first rodeo.
“It’s important to show kids it’s not a big deal to get their heads shaved,” Duffy said. “My big thing is I feel if [scientists] can cure cancer with kids — they can cure cancer.”
Members of the Suffolk County Police Department shave their heads at the event. Photo by Doug Dickerson
Several staff members at the fire department joined in the shaving spirit, including Assistant Chief Joseph Feola.
“It’s a huge event — one of the bigger events we have,” Feola said. “It’s great to see all this support from the community.”
Nine barbers and hairdressers volunteered their time to shave heads, including the owner of Rockabilly Barbers of Stony Brook’s Vinnie Ferrara. He and his crew of barbers have also been involved in the event for 16 years.
“The greatest thing about it is that we’ve been doing it for so long and seen so much money raised,” Ferrara said. “It just goes to a great cause.”
“The people are so into it,” owner of Centereach-based Blondie’s Creations Inc. Mary Beth Mastando said. She and her team have been shaving heads at the event for three years.
“The community gets together, and everybody helps,” Mastando said. “They’re excited to be shaving their head, and I’m the one doing it, so that’s pretty cool.”
The Centereach St. Baldrick’s organizers are accepting donations until next year’s event. To join in the cause, visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/10953/2018.
Suffolk County police have confirmed that a dead man was found on the grounds of Huntington High School on Monday afternoon.
Suffolk homicide detectives and crime scene vans were spotted on the periphery of the district’s property off Oakwood Road. Police have not released the identity of the adult male, but confirmed the death appears to be noncriminal at this time.
James Polansky, superintendent of Huntington school district, said no students, staff or school community members are in any way involved in the incident.
“There was never any concern regarding student or staff safety,” Polansky said.
The superintendent said upon hearing of the discovery he headed out to the join police officers at the site for several hours and confirm what facts could be ascertained. The district is fully cooperating with police investigations, Polansky said.
“It’s an unfortunate incident and equally unfortunately it happened on school grounds,” he said.
This post will be updated as more information becomes available. Last updated 5:50 p.m. March 19.
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