Police & Fire

A man in a construction mask robbed a TD Bank on Sunday afternoon, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

The man entered the bank on Lake Avenue in St. James shortly after 2:30 p.m. and approached a teller, displaying a note that demanded cash, police said. After the teller complied with the demand, the suspect, who had covered the lower half of his face with the construction mask, fled south on Lake Avenue on foot.

Police further described the robber as white, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and with a medium build, wearing a brown hoodie and blue jeans.

construction-bank-robberw2Major Case Unit detectives are investigating the case.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS.

File photo: Stony Brook University's social and behavioral sciences building
Miguel Angel Condori mugshot from SCPD
Miguel Angel Condori mugshot from SCPD

Stony Brook University Police are deploying additional officers around campus this week after a graduate student was forcibly touched over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

The suspect, who police identified as 33-year-old Miguel Angel Condori, was accused of groping a graduate student on Saturday inside the third-floor bathroom of the social and behavioral sciences building on campus, university police said. Officers have been searching campus buildings for the suspect and continue to do so while increasing police presence at strategic locations.

A surveillance image and mugshot of the suspect was posted to the Stony Brook University emergency alerts website, showing the location where the incident allegedly occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The image described the suspect as a light-skinned Hipsanic male standing at about 5 feet, 5 inches with black hair pulled back into a bun, university police said.

Any information on the suspect was to be directed to university police at 631-632-3333.

Melissa Buchanan mugshot from SCPD

A woman was charged with animal cruelty after police found a dog dead and several other animals that had not been cared for in her home.

Officers responded to an apartment on Beverly Road in South Huntington on Thursday night after a landlord reported hearing a dog excessively barking and “realizing she had not seen her tenant for a few days,” the Suffolk County Police Department said in a statement. The responders found two miniature Australian shepherd dogs, one of them dead, as well as two lizards and a cat — all of which had not been cared for, police said.

The tenant, 27-year-old Melissa Buchanan, returned while police were at the scene and “admitted to police she had not been home for several days.”

She was charged with six counts of animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning the animals.

Attorney information for Buchanan was not immediately available Friday morning.

Huntington Town’s animal control department took possession of the surviving dog and cat, while the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which worked with the police to bring charges against Buchanan, made arrangements for the lizards.

Stop … or don’t
Police arrested a 29-year-old man on April 17 for driving while ability impaired in a 2006 Nissan. The Port Jefferson Station resident was going north on Jayne Boulevard when he failed to stop at a stop sign, police said.

Live-streaming arrest
On April 23, police arrested a man from Lake Grove for petit larceny. The 59-year-old allegedly stole a Roku TV device from the WalMart at the Centereach Mall. Police arrested him at the scene.

Sleepover supplies
A 36-year-old woman from Farmingville was arrested on April 21 for allegedly stealing condoms, body wash, soap and a toothbrush from the CVS Pharmacy on Main Street in Holbrook. Police arrested the woman at the scene and charged her with petit larceny.

Kicked and punched
Police arrested three 21-year-old men from Smithtown, Port Jefferson and Stony Brook on April 18 for gang assault. According to police, around 3 a.m. that day the men kicked and punched a victim, who was later taken to Stony Brook University Hospital. Police arrested the three men near Schafer’s restaurant on West Broadway in Port Jefferson.

Shop ‘til your caught
On April 20, police arrested a 36-year-old woman from Islip who allegedly took assorted merchandise from the Target on Pond Path in Centereach. Police arrested her at the scene and charged her with petit larceny.

Not your Bud
A 27-year-old man from Yaphank was arrested on April 17 for selling alcohol to a minor. Police said the man sold Bud Light at a store on Route 25A in Rocky Point.

Bump it
Police arrested a 21-year-old man from Smithtown for violent behavior on April 17. According to police, the man was being loud near Schafer’s restaurant on West Broadway in Port Jefferson. When police arrived at the scene, the man chest-bumped an officer. Police arrested him around 3 a.m.

More impaired driving
On April 18, police arrested a 35-year-old man from Bellport for driving a 2000 Ford while ability impaired on County Road 97 near Stony Brook. The suspect crashed into a tree and police discovered the man was high.

Stealing for suds
An unknown person stole soap from a residence on Wynn Lane in Port Jefferson, on April 17 around 3:30 p.m.

Missing battery
Police said someone stole a car battery from a 1994 Chevrolet that was parked on Narcissus Road in Rocky Point on April 23.

Pills, pills, pills
On April 20, someone stole aspirin from the Rite Aid at Jefferson Plaza in Port Jefferson Station.
On April 24 around 3:15 p.m., two people entered the Rite Aid on College Road in Selden and stole pills and other items.

Scam blues
An unknown person called the Smoke Shack Blues on Main Street in Port Jefferson and identified themselves as a PSEG representative. The individual informed the shop that it hadn’t paid its electric bill. The store gave money to the scammer. The incident happened on April 21 around 2:15 p.m.

A real Pro
Police said someone entered an unlocked 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee and stole a MacBook Pro from the car while it was parked on Eisenhower Road in Centereach. The incident happened on April 23.

The unbreakable break-in
Two unknown people in dark hoodies tried to pry open a side door to a business on Route 25A in Setauket-East Setauket and pulled down parts of the ceiling to access the building. The individuals also broke a side window to the business. However, nothing was stolen. The incident happened on April 18 around 4 a.m.

Lumbering thief
Police said someone stole a mat and lumber from a residence on Douglaston Road in Sound Beach on April 19.

Swiping cell phones
Someone stole a cell phone from a Rocky Point student’s purse at the high school on April 22.

Case for concern at Kohl’s
A 49-year-old woman from Brentwood was arrested on April 23 after police said she stole clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry from Kohl’s on Crooked Hill Road in Commack. She was charged with petit larceny.
A 38-year-old woman from Smithtown was arrested after police said she stole jewelry from the same Kohl’s, also on April 23.

Trouble in a Toyota
On April 23, a 30-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma was arrested after police said she had heroin in her possession while inside a 2001 Toyota driving on the Sagtikos State Parkway in Kings Park. She was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

An arrest of substance
Police said a 23-year-old man from Patchogue had heroin on him while driving 2002 Chevy on Ronkonkoma Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma on April 23. He was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
A 24-year-old man from Mastic in the passenger seat in the car was also arrested after police said he had suboxone on him. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance as well.

No squatter’s rights here
A 48-year-old woman from Islip was arrested on April 22 for entering a private residence on Main Street in Smithtown and staying there for five days, police said. She was charged with third-degree criminal trespassing of an enclosed property.

Drumming up drama
On April 22, a 23-year-old woman from Fort Drum was arrested for punching another woman in the face three times at Express Drive South and Lake Promenade in Lake Ronkonkoma just before 2:30 a.m., police said. She was charged with second-degree harassment with physical contact.

Lots o’ drugs
Police said a 45-year-old woman from Bay Shore was arrested on April 22 for having heroin and crack cocaine in her possession while inside a parked 2004 Ford pick up truck on Pine Avenue and Express Drive North in Ronkonkoma just before 9:30 p.m. She was charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

The Panic in Needle Park
A 28-year-old woman from Hauppauge was arrested on April 21 after police said she had a hypodermic needle in her pocket while on Westwood Lane in Kings Park. She was charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument.

Can’t outrun the police
Police said a 61-year-old woman from Smithtown ignored police officers that were signaling her to pull over to the side of Route 25 in Smithtown while driving a 2016 Honda on April 21, and then intentionally drove into two 4th Precinct-police cars. When they arrested her, police said they discovered she was under the influence of drugs. She was charged with criminal mischief with intent to cause property damage and third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.

High times
On April 21, a 22-year-old man from West Babylon was arrested after police said he had heroin on him while on Westwood Lane in Smithtown. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Big break in
Police said an unknown person broke into two Big Brothers Big Sisters bins on Main Street in Smithtown on April 23.

Shop wrong
An unknown person stole food from ShopRite on Nesconset Highway in Hauppauge on April 23, police said.

Watch this
Police said an unknown person stole a DVD player from Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack on April 22.

This is not a drill
A 60-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested on April 24 at 3:15 p.m. after police said he stole drills and other tools from Home Depot on New York Avenue in Huntington. He was charged with petit larceny.

Not quite hospitable
On April 24, a 61-year-old man from Huntington was arrested after police said he stole money from a waiting room inside Huntington Hospital at 6:30 p.m. He was charged with petit larceny.

Car problems
Police said a 52-year-old woman from Huntington was driving a 2008 Ford south on 11th Avenue in Huntington with a suspended license, and had heroin on her. She was arrested at 4:40 p.m. and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, as well as seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Case for concern at Kohl’s
A 49-year-old woman from Brentwood was arrested on April 23 after police said she stole clothing, cosmetics and jewelry from Kohl’s on Crooked Hill Road in Commack. She was charged with petit larceny.
A 38-year-old woman from Smithtown was arrested after police said she stole jewelry from Kohl’s on Crooked Hill Road in Commack on April 23.

File photo

A 19-year-old was seriously injured in a crash on Wednesday night while he was trying to cross the street on a bicycle.

The Suffolk County Police Department said the crash happened shortly before 10:30 p.m. at Laurel Road and Bellerose Avenue in East Northport. As the male teenager was crossing the road, he crashed into a 2004 Ford Expedition that had been heading north on Laurel, police said.

The bicyclist, Asharoken resident Ryan Brown, was in serious condition at Stony Brook University Hospital following the incident.

The Ford’s driver, a 53-year-old East Northport man, stayed at the scene of the crash, police said. No charges were filed against him.

Police impounded the Ford for a safety check.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call detectives at 631-854-8252.

Tuesday, May 3: This version adds the identity of the teen bicyclist who was injured in the crash, as per new police information.

Roberto Pantoja mugshot from SCPD

A Huntington Station man was charged with a hate crime after allegedly stealing from the same convent twice.

On both March 7 and March 26, the Suffolk County Police Department has alleged, the suspect entered theSaint Hugh of Lincoln Convent on East 9th Street and stole both property and cash that belonged to the nuns living there.

Hate Crimes Unit detectives arrested Roberto Pantoja, 31, on Tuesday, charging him with two counts of second-degree burglary as a hate crime.

Attorney information for Pantoja was not immediately available on the state court system’s online database. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact detectives at 631-852-6323.

Reynaldo Macadaeg photo from SCPD

Update, 4.27.16, 9:42 a.m.: Police reported that Reynaldo Macadaeg has been found, unharmed.

An elderly man told his wife he wanted to go to the Philippines before disappearing on Monday, the Suffolk County Police Department said.

Reynaldo Macadaeg, a 77-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease, was last seen at his home on Centereach’s Strathmore Village Drive around 3 p.m., according to police.

Authorities issued a Silver Alert for the missing man, who also has heart problems and did not bring any medication with him.

Macadaeg is described as Filipino, 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 160 pounds, police said. He has brown eyes and thinning white hair.

At the time he was last seen, when he told his wife about how he wanted to go to the Philippines, he was wearing navy blue slacks, a dark blue coat and black shoes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call detectives at 631-854-8652 or 911.

File photo

Huntington Station had another night with gunshots, just a couple of days after two shootings left a man injured and came close to hitting a child.

No injuries were reported after several shots were fired near 10th Avenue in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The Suffolk County Police Department said officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation around 1:30 a.m. on that block, between Craven and West 15th streets.

Five men who were standing in front of a home on the residential street reported hearing gunshots and seeing flashes of light, police said, but did not see anyone firing a gun.

According to police, spent bullet casings were found at the scene.

The incident happened a little more than two days after back-to-back shootings echoed through Huntington Station. On Saturday night, one man was shot in the foot in a Long Island Rail Road commuter parking lot and just two hours later and a few blocks down, several shots were fired toward a home on East 6th Street. At that home, two friends were standing in the driveway when bullets hit the house and a vehicle in the driveway next door, where an 8-year-old child was asleep in the back seat.

The child was not hurt, police said. In the LIRR lot shooting, the victim fled to a nearby 7-Eleven, where someone called 911. He was in stable condition at the hospital.

Anyone with information about any of the shootings is asked to call the SCPD’s 2nd Squad detectives at 631-854-8252, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-220-TIPS.

File photo

Huntington Station echoed with the sound of gunfire twice on Saturday night, with two incidents just a few blocks from one another that injured one man and almost caught a child in the crosshairs.

The Suffolk County Police Department reported that the shootings occurred in a Long Island Rail Road parking lot and then on a residential street a little more than two hours later.

In the first shooting, according to police, at about 8 p.m. a 20-year-old was walking through the LIRR commuter lot off New York Avenue when another man stepped out of a vehicle, pointed a gun at him and shot him in the foot. The victim, Huntington Station resident Jose Jurado, fled and got to the 7-Eleven at New York Avenue and Depot Road, where another person called 911.

Police said Jurado was in stable condition at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

Later that night, at about 10:15 p.m., several shots were fired toward a home on East 6th Street, between Fairground Avenue and Lenox Road. Police said two friends were standing in the driveway when shots were fired in the house’s direction, with several of them hitting the home. Other bullets, police said, hit a vehicle in the driveway of the house next-door, where a child was asleep in the back seat.

The 8-year-old was not hurt, police said.

Anyone with information about either of the shootings is asked to call the SCPD’s 2nd Squad detectives at 631-854-8252, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-220-TIPS.

The Red Cross is highlighting Joe and Lori-Ann Spaccarelli in honor of National Volunteer Week. Photo from Donna Nicholls

The Spaccarelli siblings don’t argue often. But when they do, it’s about preparing people for calamities like house fires through their fire safety programs at the Red Cross.

Last year, Joe Spaccarelli joined the Red Cross after seven children died in a house fire in Midwood, Brooklyn, in March 2015. According to Spaccarelli, the family’s hot plate malfunctioned and the only working smoke alarm was in the basement of the home. The incident was enough to make Spaccarelli quit his job of 27-years to work full-time for the Red Cross as a lead for its home fire safety program. Spaccarelli started volunteering for the Red Cross during Superstorm Sandy, in 2012.

“When that happened, I lifted an eyebrow going ‘huh, it must be a very worthy cause,’” said Lori-Ann, Spaccarelli’s younger sister, about her brother quitting his job to work for the Red Cross.

Lori-Ann Spaccarelli, of Farmingdale, joined the organization as a volunteer last year. She became one of the Long Island volunteer leads for the Home Fire Safety program, after her brother left the position in September to be the program director for Get Alarmed New York City. The Red Cross volunteer and elementary school art teacher in Syosset school district said she couldn’t “say no” to helping a program that her brother loved.

The Red Cross’s Home Fire Safety and Get Alarmed New York City programs don’t only focus on educating people about fire safety and the importance of fire and smoke alarms. Volunteers also install smoke alarms free of charge. The fire safety program aims to reduce home fire-related deaths by 25 percent.

The goal of Get Alarmed NYC is to establish 100,000 smoke alarms in the NYC region within two years. The siblings said they install three to four alarms per home. While they said some homes don’t have an alarm at all, other homes don’t always have one that is working.

“When we go into a lot of these homes, it’s either that the smoke detectors aren’t working, the batteries are missing or the batteries are low,” Joe Spaccarelli said. “It beeps, they take the battery out.”

Spaccarelli added that some residents never get a chance to replace the batteries. Forty percent of the time, fire-related deaths and injuries occur when there isn’t a working alarm in the residence. According to Red Cross CEO Elizabeth Barker, the Red Cross responds nationally to around 70,000 home fires a year. Home fire preparedness isn’t simply about adding smoke detectors and informing people about escape plans, but also about educating young children.

Lori-Ann Spaccarelli started the Pillowcase Project in her school. The program teaches young kids how to get out and cope with home fires and other hazardous. The Disney-sponsored program began after Hurricane Katrina, when college students in Louisiana packed various items in their pillowcases before heading to a shelter.

According to the Spaccarellis, the program puts children at ease during a tragedy, which also helps parents remain calm.

“The children exiting those [Pillowcase Project] lessons come out with much more confidence and conviction when they go home to let their parents know,” Joe Spaccarelli said. “They know what to do and they’re comfortable.”

While the duo didn’t have any prior experience running these kinds of programs, helping others is in their blood.

Growing up, the Spaccarellis said their parents regularly gave back to their community, which encouraged the siblings to help others as well.

For the siblings, helping others is a family affair and Barker said the pair brings that same vibe to the Red Cross.

“Usually what I have is a husband-wife duo,” Barker said. “It’s been really fun to have this brother-sister dynamic to work with. It makes it feel more like a family.”