Police & Fire

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Suffolk County Police  arrested a man on Oct. 30 for driving while ability impaired by drugs following a motor vehicle crash in Manorville.

Austin Richuitti was driving a 2011 Cadillac westbound on the Long Island Expressway near exit 69 at a high rate of speed when the vehicle hit the rear of a 2010 International oil truck which caused the truck to overturn into a wooded area.

Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop a short time prior to the crash but Richuitti fled.

Richuitti, 19, of Bellport, was arrested and charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, and Reckless Driving. The Cadillac was impounded for a safety check and the International oil truck was checked at the scene by Motor Carrier Safety Section officers.

Richuitti and the operator of the International oil truck, Timothy Abruzzo, 24, of Kings Park, were transported via Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Hospital in stable condition.

Richuitti will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.
Anyone with information is asked to call Major Case Unit detectives at 631-852-6555.

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David Trent

David Trent Pleaded Guilty in September 2024

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Oct. 30 that David Trent, 19, of Mastic Beach, was sentenced to 28 years in prison after pleading guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, and other related charges, for shooting and killing Jorge Mauricio Sevilla Barrera and injuring two others outside of the Minx Nightclub in Farmingville, as well as the armed robbery of a Lyft driver that occurred in Wading River. Trent was one of 18 defendants indicted in December 2022 following a long-term investigation into violence committed by a criminal street organization, “No Fake Love,” also known as the “NFL.”

“We are satisfied that this lengthy sentence will keep this violent offender off the streets of Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This was a violent and brutal act and now this defendant will be held accountable for his indefensible actions.”

As established by the investigation and guilty plea allocution, on December 5, 2021, Trent, a member of the violent street gang No Fake Love, and his associates were gathered in the parking lot of the Minx nightclub in Farmingville. Jorge Mauricio Sevilla Barrera and his friends were walking through the parking lot after exiting the nightclub and an argument ensued. The argument turned physical, then Trent went to the vehicle that he arrived in, retrieved a firearm, and shot Barrera.

Trent and another individual then kicked Barrera while he was on the ground, before Trent stood over Barrera and shot him again, killing him. Trent and his associates then got into their vehicle and Trent leaned out of the window and fired multiple shots while the vehicle was fleeing the scene. Two additional victims suffered non-fatal injuries in the shooting.

Additionally, on April 13, 2022, Trent, along with co-conspirators Shati Roy, Jr. and Corey Foggy, ordered a Lyft rideshare car to an address in Wading River. When the driver arrived, Trent, Roy, and Foggy entered the rear of the vehicle. A short time into the trip, Roy reached over and repeatedly struck the driver about the head and body. Trent and Roy then both pointed guns at the driver’s head and stated to each other and the driver several times, “Shoot him! Get out of the car.” During this time, Foggy exited the vehicle and forcibly pulled the driver out of the vehicle, causing the driver to fall to the ground. Roy then jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off with Trent still in the rear. Roy then ripped out the dashboard camera and threw it onto the road (the camera was later recovered by investigators and captured the entire incident). Both Roy and Foggy have previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this robbery and carjacking.

On September 30, 2024, Trent pleaded guilty to the following charges before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr.:

  •   One count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
  •   Two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Class B violent felonies;
  •   One count of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a Class B felony;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent

    felonies;

  •   One count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; and
  •   One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class D felony.

    On October 30, 2024, Justice Senft sentenced Trent to 28 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Christopher Gioe, Esq.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Martha Duffy and Donald Barclay of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by District Attorney Investigator Jean Graf of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Gang Task Force.

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Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two people who allegedly stole from a Lake Grove store in September.

A man and a woman entered Sephora, located inside the Smith Haven Mall, at 1:30 p.m. on September 14 and allegedly stole approximately $1,000 worth of cosmetics.

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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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who stole from a Selden store this month. A man stole headphones from Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza on October 14 at approximately 10:45 a.m.

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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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man who allegedly stole from a Medford store in September.

A man allegedly stole cosmetics from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road, at approximately 9:20 a.m. on September 14. The merchandise was valued at approximately $385.

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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Police car. Stock photo

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a two-car crash that injured a man and
his three children in one car and seriously injured the driver of the other vehicle in Saint James on Oct. 29.

Jean Rendel was driving a 2004 Honda Accord westbound on Middle Country Road, approaching the
intersection of Lake Avenue, when the vehicle struck a 2024 Chevrolet Sonic that had been traveling
eastbound and was attempting to turn left onto Lake Avenue at approximately 6 p.m.

The driver of the Chevrolet, Marek Dekornic, 68, of Port Jefferson, was transported to Stony Brook
University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Rendel, 40, of Coram, and his three children, ages
7, 9 and 11, were transported to the same hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the
crash to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

Photo from Suffolk County SPCA

Detectives from the Suffolk County SPCA charged a Smithtown woman with animal cruelty on Oct. 26 for confining her six dogs inside an unsanitary and rotting old home.

Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, said that it’s detectives charged Lisa A. Watt, 55, of Smithtown after a search warrant executed on a Kings Park home on Old Commack Road now deemed unfit for occupancy by code officials.

Six dogs were removed with the assistance of Smithtown Animal control officers from the conditions inside. The walls were covered in grime, filth with black discoloration and spiderwebs. A portion of the first floor dining room ceiling was collapsed into the room, the second floor bedroom had the roof collapsed into the floor where the sky was visible from indoors. The floor was bare wood with the finish scratched off in the traversable portions of the interior where urine and feces were permeated into the wood, the kitchen had four dogs confined to it with feces and urine strewn about and tiles discolored with the same.

The air was noxious and the overwhelming odor of ammonia, rot, urine, and feces was so pungent that it caused officers to cough, gag, and not tolerate long periods of time inside the home. There was no running water or power accessible indoors. A seventh dog found decomposing inside will undergo forensic examination at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

After a lengthy investigation charges have been filed. Watt was arrested by detectives on October 26 at 12:20 p.m. in Smithtown at a relatives home. She was charged with six counts of Animal Cruelty and six counts of Neglecting an Impounded Animal and later released from the Suffolk County Police Department Fourth Precinct after being processed by Suffolk County SPCA detectives.

Animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Suffolk County. If you witness any incident of animal cruelty or neglect in Suffolk County please contact the Suffolk County SPCA at (631) 382-7722.

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Suffolk County Police arrested a Holbrook man on Oct. 28 after he shouted racially offensive language at a woman while following and threatening her earlier this month.

A Hispanic woman was walking her dog outside an apartment complex located at 835 Broadway Ave. in Holbrook on October 1 at 9:50 a.m. when Mario Corvasce shouted racially offensive language at her. As the woman attempted to walk away, Corvasce followed her, raising his fist toward her in a physically threatening manner.

Following an investigation by Hate Crimes Unit detectives, with assistance from Fifth Precinct Crime Section officers, Corvasce, 64, was charged with Aggravated Harassment 2nd Degree. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and will be arraigned at a later date.

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly scammed an individual in Coram in June.

The man pictured above allegedly posted a house for rent on social media that was not available and received $3,900 from the victim on June 1 at approximately 9 a.m.

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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Police car. Stock photo

Suffolk County Police arrested a woman for assault after she intentionally struck a woman with her vehicle in North Bellport in the early morning of Oct. 26.

Following a dispute between two women in a parking lot, located at 1733 Montauk Highway, at 3:40 a.m. Philomena Mistretta got into her 2004 Toyota Sienna and intentionally struck the woman with the vehicle. The victim, 63, was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue with serious injuries.

Fifth Squad detectives charged Mistretta, 51, of Coram, with Assault 1st Degree.