Edison Cabrera of Port Jefferson Station. Photo from SCPD
A .45 caliber handgun, ammunition, $20,000 in cocaine and heroin, and more than $12,000 in cash were seized by Suffolk County Police Department detectives from a home on Champlain Street in Port Jefferson Station at about 2 a.m. Sept. 16, according to Suffolk County Police.
The owner of the home, Edison Cabrera, 33, was arrested and charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree criminal contempt. Attorney information for Cabrera was not immediately available.
The seizure was the result of the execution of a search warrant following an investigation into an illegal weapon at the home.
“The Suffolk County Police Department will not waver in our commitment to take illegal guns and drugs off of Suffolk County streets,” Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini said in a statement. “We are dedicated and determined to follow every credible lead, work with our law enforcement partners at every level of government and continue to create new innovative initiatives, such as our Firearm Suppression Team and narcotics hotline, to keep our residents safe.”
A North Shore resident locks his car before going into work. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
It may seem like a no-brainer, but according to the Suffolk County Police Department many North Shore residents are forgetting to lock their cars.
The department recently launched a new “Lock It or Lose It!” campaign aimed at encouraging residents to lock their parked vehicles.
Police Commissioner Tim Sini said the department is looking for the public’s help to bring down this type of petit crime.
“Every day, the hard-working men and women of the Suffolk County Police Department are out there in force doing their best to keep crime down,” he said in a statement. “Oftentimes, though, it is the partnership with the public that helps get us the results. The first line of defense is [to] lock your doors. Also, make sure if there are valuables in your car, they are not in plain view.”
Although it may seem simple, many Long Islanders are leaving their cars unlocked.
A periodic check of Suffolk County police reports will turn up dozens of incidents of items stolen out of unlocked cars parked in driveways, parking lots or other locations.
The department has partnered with Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and multiple television and radio stations to routinely broadcast a 30-second public service announcement during the next month to remind residents to lock their vehicles.
“Unlocked vehicles give criminals an additional bonus of stealing sensitive personal documents resulting in identity theft without a victim realizing the fact until it’s too late,” Crime Stoppers President Nick Amarr said in a statement. “The Lock it or Lose It campaign is a way to remind residents how they can help prevent becoming the victim of a crime.”
According to the department, most vehicle break-ins are crimes of opportunity, and if a vehicle is locked, a criminal will usually move on. Locking car doors should substantially decrease the likelihood of being victimized. Approximately 312 cars are targeted every month in Suffolk County, according to a statement from the police.
On the North Shore, cell phones, wallets, credit cards, cash, GPS, cell phone chargers, laptops and tablets are among the most common items taken when someone breaks into a car.
Campaigns just like Suffolk County’s are becoming the norm throughout the country, as police departments in many states try to remind residents they can help reduce crime in their neighborhoods.
Dennis Cullen is charged with drowning his mother. Photo from SCPD
A 63-year-old woman was found dead in the back yard of her Lloyd Harbor home on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Lloyd Harbor Police officers found Elizabeth Cullen’s body after they received a request to check on her welfare at her residence on White Hill Road. Once she was found dead, Lloyd Harbor Police contacted Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives to conduct an investigation.
While police forces were at the house, Denis D. Cullen Jr., the victim’s son, came home and police arrested him and charged him with second-degree murder.
No attorney information on the 23-year-old was immediately available.
Canine police officer Thomas Teufel, Maverick, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini, canine police officer Kenneth Michaels and Dallas V pose for a photo together. Photo from SCPD
Canine police officer Kenneth Michaels and Dallas V smile for the camera. Photo from SCPD
Canine police officer Kenneth Michaels trains with Dallas V. Photo from SCPD
Canine police officer Thomas Teufel trains with Maverick. Photo from SCPD
Canine police officer Kenneth Michaels, Dallas V and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini pose for a photo together. Photo from SCPD
Canine police officer Thomas Teufel shows off Maverick during the press conference. Photo from SCPD
Canine police officer Thomas Teufel and Maverick smile for the camera. Photo from SCPD
Two German shepherds are joining the force.
15-month-old Dallas V and 19-month-old Maverick, who were bred in Europe, have been training with the Suffolk County Police Department for one month and are close to graduation.
The two new patrol dogs are expected to complete training in November, which covers criminal apprehension, evidence recovery, obedience and tracking. These new additions to the team were announced recently at a press conference held at the Suffolk County Police Department Headquarters in Yaphank.
A Port Jefferson man died Sunday after drowning in the Long Island Sound.
Mouhamed Souleiman, 42, exited a boat that he was on with two friends to go for a swim south of Stratford Shoal Middle Ground Lighthouse just after noon Sunday. He was pulled away from the boat by the current, according to police. Souleiman was unresponsive when his friends located him in the water. He was taken to Port Jefferson Marina by Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers, and then transported to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he was pronounced dead.
The lighthouse is located about halfway between Long Island and Connecticut, and is currently active, according to the United States Coast Guard.
Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the incident, though it is not believed to be criminal in nature.
Police officer Tim Beck with a humvee during SCPD's National Night Out community outreach event. Photo by Ted Ryan
By Ted Ryan
Huntington Town joined communities across the nation on Tuesday, Aug. 2, to celebrate the 34th annual National Night Out, an event that promotes police-community partnerships to help make neighborhoods a safer place to live.
“We have forged relationships among law enforcement, government and the community that keeps lines of communication open so when problems arise, we can work together on solutions.”
—Dolores Thompson
This is Huntington’s 14th consecutive year celebrating the event, starting in 2002.
Residents flocked to Manor Field Park in Huntington Station, where the Suffolk County Police Department, the Huntington Station Business Improvement District and corporate sponsors Target and 7-Eleven got together to show a sense of unity for the community.
This event is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and to generate support for participation in local anti-crime efforts.
Vice President of Huntington Station BID Dolores Thompson spoke on why this event is meaningful for the community.
“We have forged relationships among law enforcement, government and the community that keeps lines of communication open so when problems arise, we can work together on solutions,” she said at the event.
Suffolk County police ran a crime scene investigation clinic and had a demonstration of police dogs in action, demonstrated the department’s GPS tracker, let residents try a distracted driving simulator and explore a Humvee.
Police Explorer Tim Beck described what the National Night Out meant to him.
“[It’s] a nationwide law enforcement day which connects the community to the police department to teach both the police department and the community about everything that’s going on, inform the community on what the police are up to … and to let the community tell the police what they feel should be done,” Beck said.
There were multiple nonprofit groups at the event, each distributing brochures and information on how they are helping create a more comfortable community, including Long Island Cares, Huntington Public Library, Fidelis Care, Northwell Health and others.
Carolyn Macata was at the Northwell Health stand and said the medical group was trying to bring fun activities to kids that also helped them learn how to stay healthy.
“One of the things we’re focusing on today is healthy nutrition for the kids, plus we work with controlling asthma, so we have asthma-related coloring books specially geared toward young children, as to help identify their triggers, learn their medications and work with their doctors,” she said.
Huntington residents explore the many booths and stations set up for this year’s National Night Out event on Aug. 2. Photo by Ted Ryan
In light of the recent police shootings in Austin and Dallas this year — among other shootings throughout the country — Supervisor Frank Petrone (D) spoke on how this year’s National Night Out is an opportunity to heal the connection between police and civilians.
“This year — especially at a time when the relationship between police and the community is strained in some places elsewhere in the country — it is gratifying to know that here in Huntington, everybody is working together toward the common goals of reduced crime, increased security and better quality of life,” he said.
Last year, 38.5 million people from 15,728 communities in states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide participated in this event.
Deputy Inspector Matthew McCormack spoke on what his takeaway was of National Night Out.
“It’s a get-together where you can come out and meet everybody and celebrate a night out against violence,” he said. “[National Night Out] puts a face on the police department, and a face on the community.”
Police are trying to identify a man who damaged a glass door at the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. Photo from SCPD
After hours boat rides are not allowed.
A glass door to the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, located at 102 West Broadway in Port Jefferson, was damaged by a man between 4:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. July 23, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
The suspect appears to be a white male in his 20s or 30s with short brown hair, medium build, seen wearing a gray shirt, gray shorts, black sneakers and a gold chain.
The police department is offering a cash reward up to $5,000 to anyone with information regarding the incident that leads to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls remain confidential.
Michael Dublar is charged with third-degree robbery. Photo from SCPD
The online version of this story was last updated at 1:30 p.m. on July 21, 2016.
Michael Dublar is charged with third-degree robbery. Photo from SCPD
Detectives from the Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit have made an arrest in connection with one of the two robberies at TD Bank on Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson Station which occurred in a four day span between June 30 and July 3.
Michael Dublar, 33, who is homeless, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with third-degree robbery in connection with the July 3 incident. At about 11:15 a.m., police said Dublar entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash. The teller complied and Dublar fled on foot, according to police. Dublar was also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and an Islip Town warrant. He was held overnight at the 6th precinct and arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip, police said.
The pattern was very similar to the incident that occurred four days earlier.
The first suspect, who police are still hoping to identify, entered the bank at about 2:15 p.m. on June 30. He is described as a white male in his 30s, is about six feet tall with a thin build, brown hair and a goatee, according to police. At the time of the incident he was wearing a long sleeve flannel shirt, blue jeans, dark colored shoes, a baseball hat and sunglasses. Police said the teller complied with the demand and the man fled southbound through the parking lot towards Broadway, east of Old Town Road.
The bank is located a few hundred feet from Christ Church United Methodist of Port Jefferson Station.
Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.
SCPD is asking for help from the public to identify these two men, who robbed the same Port Jeff Station bank three days apart. Photo from SCPD
A violent dispute between two homeless men left one with a gunshot wound, and the other in court.
Alain Jean mugshot from SCPD
Alain Jean, 22, charged with shooting a homeless man in Port Jefferson Station on June 11, pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon when he was arraigned at Suffolk County District Court in Riverhead on Tuesday, according to his attorney and Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.
“He vehemently denies these allegations,” Jean’s Hauppauge-based attorney Donald Mates said in a phone interview Tuesday. “He can’t wait to get his story out there to explain what really happened.”
Jean’s bail was set at $500,000 cash or $1 million bond, according to a spokesman for Spota. Mates said his client wasn’t able to make bail as of Tuesday.
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, Jean shot the 22-year-old victim multiple times shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Union Street, which is between Hallock Avenue and Route 25A, and the Long Island Rail Road tracks in Port Jefferson Station.
The victim was treated for serious injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital. A spokesman for Spota said the weapon used in the shooting was a .22 caliber revolver.
Residents gather to discuss drug and heroin use, rehabilitation and laws at the North Shore Drug Awareness Advocates’ monthly meeting. Photo by Giselle Barkley
“Addiction is a family disease.”
That’s what Tracey Budd and social worker Mary Calamia had to say during the North Shore Drug Awareness Advocates’ community event about heroin use on Long Island.
Around 20 residents gathered at the Rocky Point Veterans of Foreign Wars headquarters on Feb. 24 to discuss drug laws, heroin use in the community and how to combat the Island’s heroin issues.
Tracey Budd, of Rocky Point, founded the North Shore Drug Awareness Advocates group to help work with families to try to combat the drug issues on Long Island. Photo by Giselle Barkley
Budd, of Rocky Point, established the North Shore Drug Awareness Advocates group last fall. Her son, Kevin Norris, was one of many heroin users on Long Island before he died of an overdose in September 2012. Budd hoped to educate Long Island communities on drug awareness and establish a support system for drug users and their families who are seeking help, with the creation of this group. She tries to hold a meeting at least once a month.
“I’m hoping that as parents, neighbors, [and] friends, we learn how to advocate [about drug awareness] a little more, rather than putting it on Facebook,” said Budd about residents who have sought help, especially with acquiring Narcan, through social media outlets. She was among several residents, including Dorothy Johnson, who said people need to change how they view heroin users.
Johnson is a member of the Great Bay coalition. She lost her son four years ago to a heroin overdose and has fought to increase drug awareness ever since. For Johnson, heroin and drug users aren’t junkies, but everyday people in need of help.
“It’s not that they’re bad and sitting on a street corner,” Johnson said. “It’s somebody that’s walking around in a suit and tie that comes from a good family.”
Many of these families do not change how they view or deal with their relative once they return from a rehabilitation center. According to Calamia, treating rehabilitated individuals as though they still use heroin or other drugs will only encourage future drug use.
In light of heroin use on Long Island, the Suffolk County Police Department started using Narcan in August 2012, according to Dr. Scott Coyne, chief surgeon for the police department. The anti-overdose medication was used more than 470 times in 2013 and 2014 and 543 times last year. While Narcan allows officials and those trained to administer it to save people who overdose on heroin or opiate-based drugs, public and safety officials said some drug users abuse the system.
Sgt. Keith Olsen, on right, speaks at the North Shore Drug Awareness Advocates’ meeting. Photo by Giselle Barkley
Capt. William Murphy said the police department has saved an unidentified Mastic Beach resident around 11 times using Narcan. Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden) added that one woman who got into a car crash on Middle Country Road and Nicolls Road a few weeks ago demanded Narcan from First Responders. According to LaValle, officials can’t test a resident’s blood after receiving Narcan.
Currently, patients can go home shortly after officials administer the medication. Budd is trying to establish a 72-hour hold for these patients, which will allows hospitals to monitor patients following the procedure.
She also helped establish a 24-hour hotline for drug users and their families or friends who are looking for help, after she attended a conference at the Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone’s (D) office last September. That hotline should be up and running, according to Budd, by April 1.
“Sometimes I feel bad for the young kids we’re locking up,” said Sgt. Keith Olsen of the SCPD. “They need help. They’re not the dealer. They’re not turning it over. They’re not the ones causing trouble.”
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