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Stock photo

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a tow truck operator in Huntington Station on July 17.

Leonel Guillen Avila was driving a 2009 Honda Civic southbound on 9th Ave. when his vehicle struck a tow truck operator who was hooking up a disabled vehicle to a tow truck, owned by Auto Houndz, which was parked on the shoulder in front of 65 9th Ave., at 3:34 p.m.

The tow truck operator, Justine Ballesteros, 29, of Huntington Station, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Avila, 18, of Huntington Station, was not injured.

The Honda was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Brendan Marchetti Allegedly Told Four Muslim Men That He Wanted to Kill All Muslims

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on July 17 that Brendan Marchetti, 35, of Huntington, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, as a Hate Crime, and other related charges, for threatening to kill four Muslim men and then ramming his vehicle into theirs.

“Prosecuting hate crimes is essential to not only protect victims but to also uphold the values of tolerance and respect, especially for other people’s religions. It is unconscionable that my prosecutors cannot ask for bail on cases such as this due to ‘Bail Reform,’ especially where such violence is alleged,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Hate in any form has no place in Suffolk County, and those who perpetrate such acts will face the full force of the law.”

According to the investigation, on June 17, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., four Muslim men dressed in traditional Muslim attire were in a car on their way to a mosque. The men’s vehicle came to stop at a red light at an intersection in Huntington. Marchetti was in the driver seat of a vehicle that was stopped at the same red light. Marchetti allegedly stated to the Muslim men, in sum and substance, that he wanted to kill all Muslims, that all Muslims should die, and that he wanted to blow them up. Marchetti then allegedly drove his vehicle into the side of their car, causing damage exceeding $1,500.

As the victims began to drive away to flee, Marchetti allegedly attempted to strike their car a second time. In fear for their lives, the victims immediately called 911 and reported Marchetti’s license plate to the police. Law enforcement located Marchetti and his vehicle at an auto body shop a short time later and transported him to a hospital for mental health treatment.

On July 17, 2024, Marchetti was arraigned on the following charges before District Court Judge Rosann Orlando:

  •   Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, as a Hate Crime, a Class C felony;
  •   Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, as a Hate Crime, a Class E felony; and  Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, as a Hate Crime, a Class A

    misdemeanor.

    All three charges that Marchetti faces are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning that prosecutors could not ask for bail, nor could a judge set bail at the time of arraignment. Thus, the District Attorney’s Office requested that Marchetti be placed on supervised released with GPS monitoring and mental health conditions. Judge Orlando ordered Marchetti to be placed on supervised released with mental health conditions. Marchetti is due back in court on July 24, 2024, and he is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara O’Donnell of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Jack Balaguera of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit.

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Photo courtesy of District Attorney Tierney's office

Kerriann Kelly is the First from Suffolk County to Receive This Prestigious Honor Since 2013

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced that Major Crime Bureau Chief Kerriann Kelly was awarded the 2024 Prosecutor of the Year Award for Trial Advocacy at the District Attorneys Association of New York’s (DAASNY) annual summer conference held in Bolton Landing on June 29, 2024.

“Kerriann Kelly rightfully deserves this special recognition for her superior performance prosecuting Michael Valva and Angela Pollina for the 2020 murder of eight-year-old Thomas Valva,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Apart from being a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, Kerriann is the epitome of a veteran prosecutor, having served the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for 36 years, conducted dozens of felony trials, and graciously mentored generations of young prosecutors under her leadership. There is no doubt that her accomplishments here in Suffolk County have, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on the larger legal community of New York.”

Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Kelly joined the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in 1988. She is a graduate of Boston College and the Oklahoma City University School of Law. After law school, ADA Kelly worked for the Suffolk County Attorney’s Office as a Deputy County Attorney for two years before transferring to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

She served in multiple bureaus including District Court, Appeals, White Collar Crime, Narcotics, Major Crime, and Homicide. Before District Attorney Tierney promoted her to Chief of the Major Crime Bureau in 2022, ADA Kelly also served as Chief of the Special Investigations Bureau, the Homicide Bureau, and the Felony Offense Bureau, where she supervised teams of prosecutors and oversaw hundreds of trials.

During her career, ADA Kelly brought over 40 felony cases to verdict at trial, including over 20 homicide trials. Two such recent cases were those of the People v. Michael Valva and People v. Angela Pollina. In 2022 and 2023, ADA Kelly led the trial team prosecuting these defendants in separate, high-profile trials for the murder of Valva’s eight-year-old son. Thomas tragically died of hypothermia on the fridged morning of January 17, 2020, after he and his 10-year-old brother were forced by the defendants to sleep in an unheated garage in below-freezing temperatures.

As a direct result of the evidence produced at trial and subsequent guilty verdicts, District Attorney Tierney requested a Special Grand Jury be empaneled to investigate the conduct and practices of Suffolk County Child Protective Services. Over the course of approximately six months, the Special Grand Jury heard testimony from 27 witnesses and examined 56 exhibits consisting of approximately 2000 pages of material. That Special Grand Jury issued a report containing factual findings and recommendations for legislative, executive, and administrative action to improve the efficacy of CPS and the safety of children in Suffolk County.

In addition to trial work and litigation training, ADA Kelly regularly lectures on behalf of the office on the topics of DNA, Grand Jury practice, jury selection, eyewitness identification, and video surveillance.

The DAASNY Prosecutor of the Year Award winners are selected from nominations made by district attorneys across New York State. The awards are given to prosecutors who have enhanced our criminal justice system in the courtroom and in the local community.

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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 allegedly stole merchandise from a Selden store this month.

A man allegedly stole a JBL speaker, valued at $129, from Target, located at 307 Independence Plaza, on July 9 at 7:40 p.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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Photo from SCPD
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 person who allegedly set off fireworks causing damage to a Stony Brook home this month.

A person allegedly set off fireworks in the direction of a Manchester Lane home that caused damage on July 2 at 10:25 p.m. The suspect fled in a white vehicle.

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
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 men who allegedly stole merchandise from a Medford store in June.

Two men allegedly stole merchandise from Lowes, located at 2796 Route 112, on June 27 at 7:16 p.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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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Dolores Mancialandaverde Allegedly Attempted to Evade Responsibility by Fleeing on Foot After Crashing into a Tractor Trailer

On July 16 Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment of Dolores Mancialandaverde, 28, of Medford for leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, and other related charges for allegedly operating a motor vehicle while his privilege to drive in New York State was suspended, and then leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of his passenger, Hedilberto Nava-Perez, 44, of Medford, and serious physical injuries to another passenger.

“After slamming into a tractor trailer, this defendant allegedly cared more about evading responsibility for his actions than rendering aid to his own friends and passengers,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will seek justice for the victims in this case, including Mr. Nava- Perez who tragically lost his life.”

According to the investigation, on June 8, 2024, at approximately 1:52 a.m., Mancialandaverde was allegedly driving his 2008 BMW 328i southbound on Horseblock Road in Medford, with two passengers inside.

As a tractor trailer was making a left-hand turn from Horseblock Road onto Express Drive North, Mancialandaverde allegedly drove through the intersection and crashed into the tractor trailer. Mancialandaverde allegedly exited his vehicle and fled on foot as a bystander attempted to render aid to the victims.

Nava-Perez, Mancialandaverde’s back-seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mancialandaverde’s front-seat passenger suffered femur, spinal, and facial fractures, and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital. The driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured.

At the time of the crash, Mancialandaverde’s privilege to drive in New York was suspended.

On July 16, 2024, Mancialandaverde was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for the following charges:

 Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony;
 Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class E felony; and
 Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, an Unclassified misdemeanor.

Justice Mazzei ordered Mancialandaverde held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $500,00 partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Mancialandaverde is due back in court on August 18, 2024, and he is being represented by Luigi Belcastro, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Rosenheck of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Donal Hughes of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.

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File photo

Update on July 15: The man who was pulled from the water on July 14 and died in apparent drowning at Outer Beach at Smith Point County Park has been identified as Michael Petruzzo, 64, undomiciled.

Below is the original press release:

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a man who was pulled from the water in Shirley on July 14.

Seventh Precinct officers responded to Outer Beach at Smith Point County Park at approximately 3:55 p.m. after good Samaritans pulled an unresponsive man from the water. The man was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue where he was pronounced dead. The man, who is believed to have drowned, has not yet been identified.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-
6392.

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Do you recognize this man? Photo from SCPD

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

A man allegedly stole a tent and beer from Target, located at 2975 Horseblock Road on June 14 at approximately 6:20 p.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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Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Seventh Precinct Crime Section
officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the driver of a vehicle that fled
the scene in Shirley in June.

A white box truck was traveling southbound on William Floyd Parkway, near Flower Hill
Drive, when the vehicle struck a 2015 Kia Optima on June 26 at 11:15 p.m. The driver of
the box truck fled the scene. The driver of the Kia sustained a minor injury.

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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