A Water Mill man has been arrested for allegedly submitting two absentee ballot applications in the name his deceased mother, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini announced Friday.
The DA’s office said Wayne Tappe, 57, of Water Mill, submitted absentee ballot applications in both September and October to the Suffolk County Board of Elections using his mother’s name. The BOE had already been notified in June by the Department of Health that Lucille Tappe of Commack has died on June 16.
Mr. Tappe also submitted multiple applications for himself, the first in March and another last month.
Officials at the BOE brought the matter to the attention of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and an investigation was launched by its Public Integrity Bureau.
Investigators said a forensic scientist at the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory conducted a handwriting analysis of the September application from Ms. Tappe and found that it was written by her son. Both Mr. Tappe and his mother were registered as Democrats, BOE records show.
Mr. Tappe is charged with two counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a felony. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court on Nov. 5.
“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and we will not tolerate any violation of the election process here in Suffolk County,” Mr. Sini said. “My office is committed to investigating any and all instances of alleged voter fraud and prosecuting anyone who attempts to violate the security of our elections. Any Suffolk County residents looking to report suspected voter fraud can call my office’s Public Integrity Bureau at 631-853-8298.”
If convicted, Tappe faces a maximum sentence of one and one-third to four years in prison.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
On Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m., subsequent to a vehicle and traffic stop for failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to keep right on North Ferry Road, Patrick John Dempsey, 23, of Patchogue, was arrested for driving while ability impaired by drugs. The defendant was processed, released on an appearance ticket and directed to appear in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
On Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m., subsequent to a vehicle and traffic stop for failure to stop at a stop sign and failure to keep right on North Ferry Road, Patrick John Dempsey, 23, of Patchogue, was arrested for driving while ability impaired by drugs.
The defendant was processed, released on an appearance ticket and directed to appear in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrests
Patrick John Dempsey, 23, of Patchogue was driving on North Ferry Road on Oct. 14 at about 6:45 p.m. when he was stopped by police near the IGA for failure to keep to the right and to stop at the stop sign. He was then arrested for driving while ability impaired by drugs.
Mr. Dempsey was processed at Police Department headquarters, released on an appearance ticket and ordered to appear in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later date.
Summonses
On Oct. 14, Thomas H. Bishop of New York City was driving on Winthrop Road when he was stopped and ticketed by police for making an improper/unsafe turn without signaling.
C. W. Demopoulos of Mattituck was given a summons on Oct. 15 on South Ferry Road for operating a vehicle while using a portable electronic device.
Traffic stops and distracted driving enforcement were conducted by police on Oct. 14, 15, 16 and 19 in the Center, West Neck, Cartwright and the Heights, resulting in two tickets and three warnings.
Accidents
Maria Diaz Portillo of Shelter Island was exiting a driveway onto Jaspa Road on Oct. 15 when she hit a vehicle driven by Wilma Patricia Evangelista of Shelter Island, who was traveling westbound on Jaspa. Damage to both vehicles was under $1,000. Ms. Portillo’s vehicle had minor damage to the right front quarter panel; Ms. Evangelista’s vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s-side rear quarter panel.
Ms. Portillo was subsequently issued a summons for unlicensed operation.
Other reports
A tree branch on wires in Dering Harbor was reported on Oct. 13. Police responded and notified PSEG.
An officer investigated an open storm door at a Center residence that was swinging open due to high winds. The main door was locked and police secured the storm door.
A bay constable noticed that an improperly secured boat was hitting a bulkhead in Silver Beach. No damage was noted and the owner was notified.
Also on the 13th, the owner of a 21-foot boat reported that it had become detached from his larger boat in Coecles Harbor and he was concerned that it may have drifted outside the harbor. An officer responded with a marine unit, located the boat and returned it to the anchorage.
On Oct. 14, a caller requested police assistance in contacting North Ferry for an early boat in order to get to a doctor. She refused medical attention and was transported to Greenport.
A caretaker told police on Oct. 14 that an unknown vehicle, not belonging to the homeowners, was parked in a driveway on Ram Island. It was later confirmed that the vehicle was parked with permission.
On the 14th, a caller told police that she had seen young people coming over on a North Ferry boat who looked like they were the same group seen blocking traffic in an Oct. 11 incident reported last week. An officer found they did not match the description of youths in the previous call.
Police received a report at headquarters of harassment on Oct. 16, which had occurred in another jurisdiction.
On the 17th, a caller said a boat — a Zodiac — had washed ashore in South Ferry Hills. An officer contacted the owner who said he would remove it.
Police were told that three men were possibly attempting to steal the caller’s friend’s boat in Silver Beach. After checking with the owner, the caller said the men were in the process of moving the boat to a storage facility for winterizing.
A station wagon was reported parked in HiLo near the woods and a man with a flashlight was seen walking in the wooded area. When an officer arrived, the vehicle was no longer in the area and was not located in a canvass of HiLo Shores and West Neck.
Police responded to a domestic dispute in the Center on Oct. 18.
On Oct. 19, police investigated a report that an unknown person had put approximately 10 cardboard boxes in the caller’s HiLo shed over the past two months. No items in the shed were missing or broken.
PSEG was notified on Oct. 19 that a tree limb was hanging on a primary wire in the Heights.
In other reports, police responded to lost and found calls, performed court duty, provided escorts and completed a number of state-mandated administrative reports.
Alarms
A residential motion alarm was set off on Ram Island on Oct. 15. The homeowners were not there but the exterior doors and windows appeared to be secure and there was no sign of any criminal activity.
On Oct. 16, the Shelter Island Fire Department responded to an alarm in Silver Beach but found no emergency.
Also on the 16th, a residential alarm on Ram Island was activated by an ADT employee installing the system.
A fire alarm in Shorewood was logged in on Oct. 18 but no narrative was available.
Animals
A caller reported a dog at large walking down the middle of Manhansett Road in Dering Harbor. The dog was gone when police arrived.
A Cartwright caller told police a dog was howling in the neighborhood. An animal control officer (AC0) found the dog alone, still howling, in his own home.
A banded pigeon was found in the Center. The ACO traced the owner through the band and saw to the return of the bird.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported two cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Oct 14 and 17; a third aided case refused medical attention on Oct. 19.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Joseph A. Loomis of Uncasville, Conn. was driving on North Ferry Road on Oct. 20 when he was stopped by police and given a ticket for not having distinctive or secure license plates. He was also ticketed for aggravated unlicensed operation in the 3rd degree — a misdemeanor.
On Oct. 26, Edward Reid of Ronkonkoma was issued a summons on Lake Drive for operating a vehicle with a suspended/revoked registration.
Police conducted 14 distracted driving enforcement and traffic stops in Menantic, the Center and the Heights on Oct. 20, 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26, resulting in 11 warnings and three tickets.
Other reports
An owner reported on Oct. 20 that his dinghy was missing from a beach in Dering Harbor. An officer canvassed the area with negative results.
An officer on patrol on the 20th noticed doors open on a parked vehicle in Tarkettle. The owner said he left the doors open on purpose to air out the vehicle.
An officer helped another agency by serving an order of protection personally on Oct. 21. On that date, a caller told police, for information purposes, that a political Trump sign had been taken from her Center property.
A case of grand larceny was reported on Oct. 22 when the complainant said an identified suspect removed objects without permission or authority.
A caller reported on Oct. 23 that while traveling north on New York Avenue, a vehicle headed south drove around a parked FedEx truck at a high rate of speed and almost hit her vehicle head on. An officer made contact with the alleged owner regarding the incident.
On Oct. 24, a loud party was reported in Longview. When an officer arrived, there was no noise but he spoke with someone regarding the complaint and was assured that he and his friends would refrain from making any further disturbance.
Also on the 24th, a caller reported receiving derogatory text messages and wanted it to stop. The caller was advised to block the number and to report any harassing or threatening contact.
An employee of a business in the Heights reported the use and attempted use of several credit cards that were possibly stolen.
A caller told police that people may have gotten lost in Mashomack, looking for a dog. An employee was able to help in finding them — and the lost dog.
On Oct. 25, an officer supervised the removal of property from a Center home related to an order of protection. There were no problems.
Police were told on the 25th that a family member was riding the caller’s dirt bike without permission. The owner of the bike was contacted and stated that permission had been given.
Also on that date, a caller reported that her children went for a walk in the woods and a 9-year-old didn’t return with the others. When an officer arrived, the mother said they had found the young person walking out of the woods on South Midway Road.
A visitor to Police Headquarters on the 25th reported that an identified person had taken an object from her apartment in January and never returned it.
An extra patrol was requested in the Center because of young people skateboarding on the property. Two days later, the caller flagged down an officer and said that the youths had returned. They were told they did not have permission to skate there and complied.
Police investigated a call about a trailer left in a roadway in Shorewood on Oct. 26. An officer searched the area and was unable to locate the trailer. When informed of that, the caller said the owner had removed the trailer in the meantime.
Among other incidents during the week, police attended training in Brentwood, verified the location of a vehicle for another state’s DMV, looked into two lost-and-found reports, assisted a resident in the home and responded to two calls about keys locked inside vehicles.
Alarms
Smoke in a second floor stairwell set off a fire alarm at a Dering Harbor residence on Oct. 22. An officer found that an employee had accidentally cut a wire to the alarm system.
The Shelter Island Fire Department responded to a residential fire alarm in Longview on Oct. 24. It was declared a false alarm due to a faulty smoke detector.
Animal incidents
A dog at large was reported in Silver Beach; the animal control officer (ACO) recognized the dog and returned it to its owner.
A caller said a dog was running at large in the Center. The ACO knew the dog but it had returned home by the time the officer arrived. A loose dog in West Neck was brought inside before the ACO arrived; it had been in its own yard.
Barking dogs were reported in Shorewood; the ACO responded and found no dogs barking.
A bird was reported trapped inside a house in Menantic; the ACO captured the wren and set it free outside.
An injured turkey in the Center was called in; the ACO observed the turkey and thought it was mobile enough to survive.
A bird was reported unable to fly in West Neck. The ACO was not successful in capturing the bird.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported three people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Oct. 20, 22 and 26. A fourth person was taken to Southampton Hospital on Oct. 20.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
On Oct. 28, Katherine V. Franzoni of Shelter Island was driving on Cobbetts Lane when police issued her a ticket for failure to keep right.
Richard C. Brown of New York City was given a summons on that date for failure to stop at a stop sign while driving on West Neck Road.
Police conducted 16 traffic stops and radar and distracted driving enforcement in the Center, Menantic, West Neck and on the North Ferry line between Oct. 27 and 31 and on Nov. 1. Eleven warnings and two tickets were issued.
Accidents
Norine Monti of Shelter Island was driving west on Smith Street on Oct. 30 when a deer ran out of the woods and into her vehicle. Damage to the driver’s-side front fender, hood and headlight was estimated at over $1,000.
Other reports
A caller told police on Oct. 27 that three young people were acting suspiciously in the Heights. An officer responded, talked to the youths and found no illegal activity.
The sound of three gunshots in the Center was reported on Oct. 27. The area was canvassed with negative results. The officer was advised by Police Dispatch, however, that permitted shotgun hunting was taking place in Mashomack that evening.
A driver reported seeing a small cloud of smoke from wires in front of the former Capital One bank on Oct. 28. An officer observed the wires for 20 minutes but did notice any hazard.
On that date, a person visited Police Headquarters to report a 12-foot inflatable missing from the Shelter Island Yacht Club.
A speed enforcement patrol was requested on Oct. 29 on Clinton Avenue in the Heights.
The same day, an officer responded to a report of a snapped telephone pole leaning over a Hay Beach roadway, causing a hazardous condition. PSEG was notified and arrived on the scene.
A caller told police that an unknown male came to the door and attempted to deliver three small packages. An officer interviewed the person and no criminal activity was noted.
The next day, Oct. 30, storm winds felled a tree on the side of a Center residence, pulling down electrical wires between the main house and an accessory building. The tree also hit two propane tanks, causing them to fall and snap regulator lines. An officer responded; employees of John’s Gas Service stopped the propane leak; and the Shelter Island Fire Department (SIFD) checked both buildings for any indication of fire.
Police were told that a boat was dragging its mooring in Coecles Harbor and might be damaged on the rocks. When officers arrived, the boat’s owner was onboard and bay constables stood by until the owner moved the boat to safety.
On Oct. 31, a political sign was reported stolen from a Center residence. The next day, a sign was damaged in the Heights, but the complainant declined police investigation.
Officers monitored increased traffic at North and South ferries due to a political demonstration. No incidents were reported.
In other reports, officers jump started a vehicle; unlocked a residence and a vehicle with the keys inside; responded to two lost and found reports; assisted a resident in the home; scheduled DARE classes with the school administration; and conducted traffic on Smith Street for Halloween.
Alarms
The SIFD responded to a gas detector alarm in the Center on Oct. 27; there was no gas leak but the fire chief said build-up from fumes in a kitchen being painted caused the alarm to activate,
On Oct. 30, a residential alarm in a Center garage was caused by a system malfunction.
An alarm at the employees’ entrance to the North Ferry building was set off on Oct. 31 when an employee entered the wrong code by mistake.
Also on the 31st, two fire alarms were activated in Cartwright and the Center — both due to cooking in the kitchens. SIFD was notified.
A carbon monoxide alarm in Silver Beach on Nov. 1 brought out the SIFD. The alarm was due to a heating system malfunction. An Emergency Medical Services team responded to check on possible carbon monoxide exposure.
Animal incidents
An injured turkey was reported in Menantic. An animal control officer (ACO) observed the turkey but it seemed mobile enough to survive and was part of a flock. An injured bird was spotted in the Center; the ACO recognized it as a healthy dove that flew away when approached.
A dog at large in the Center was reported; the ACO canvassed the area with negative results.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported two cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Oct. 27 and 28.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Jorge M. Grantes of Hempstead was driving on North Ferry Road on Nov. 5 when he was stopped and given two tickets — one for following too closely and the other for operating at a speed not reasonable and prudent.
A town summons was issued on Nov.7 late in the evening to Daniel R. Clark of Shelter Island for setting off firecrackers on North Cartwright Road and creating unreasonable noise — a town code violation.
Police conducted 13 traffic stops and radar and distracted driving enforcement in the Center, Menantic, the Heights and West Neck on Nov. 2 and 3 and Nov. 5 through 8, resulting in six warnings and two tickets.
Accidents
On Nov. 2, Kathleen M. Springer of Shelter Island was driving north on South Ferry Road when a deer ran onto the roadway and hit the front of her vehicle, causing more than $1,000 in damage.
Colin R. Telmer of New York City was traveling east on Manwaring Road on Nov. 7 when a deer ran into the front driver’s-side of his vehicle, resulting in damage in excess of $1,000. The deer ran off.
Other reports
An officer documented a possible larceny on Ram Island on Nov. 2.
That day, a caller reported a disabled vehicle in the Center. An officer found that the radiator had overheated; the vehicle was towed.
Police responded on Nov. 4 to a complaint about an attempted forced entry on a front double door on Ram Island.
An officer served a temporary order of protection, summons and petition in the Center on Nov. 4. Police received an email on that date about a person being the victim of a grand larceny from a suspect several years ago in the Southampton Police Department’s jurisdiction.
On Nov. 6, a caller told police that early in the morning, about 12 a.m., an unknown person had entered his Center residence without permission or authority.
Police were informed on Nov. 6 that a vehicle was parked illegally in South Ferry Hills. An officer located the vehicle and interviewed the driver who appeared disoriented and lost.
A caller told police about engaging in a verbal dispute on the North Ferry on Nov. 6 and wanted the police to advise the other person to have no further contact with the caller. An officer did so.
A landlord/tenant dispute in the Center was documented for information purposes on Nov. 6.
A loud party in Silver Beach was reported on Nov. 7. An officer heard music coming from the backyard of the home and spoke to the resident who said she would turn down the music and bring the people inside. A second noise complaint was called in on the 7th in West Neck. The homeowner had turned the music down and everyone was back inside.
Also on the 7th, a caller told police his Center neighbor was violating the town noise code. The responding officer observed construction on the property but advised the complainant that the noise was not unreasonable for the time it occurred and did not violate town code.
Police advised a caller on Nov. 8 that an incident on Snap Chat did not constitute harassment, but suggested that Southold Police Department be contacted since it was within their jurisdiction.
In other reports, police conducted crossing guard duty at the school, attended rifle qualification training in Westhampton, assisted at the polls on Election Day, fingerprinted a person for employment purposes, responded to six lost and found incidents and followed up on a false 911 call.
Alarms
A commercial alarm at the Historical Society was set off on Nov. 3; police found all doors and windows secure.
An officer responded to a burglary alarm in the Center on Nov. 6; no criminal activity was found.
Animal incidents
An injured deer was reported in West Neck; the deer had to be put down by police. Another injured deer was seen in a Center roadway; the area was canvassed with negative results.
A caller told police a raccoon was in a trap in the Heights; the animal control officer contacted the property manager to remove the animal.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams responded and transported three cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Nov. 4, 6 and 7.
Shelter Island Police arrested a Cedarhurst man yesterday at about 1:30 p.m. during a traffic stop on the Island and charged him with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and making an illegal turn without signaling.
Police said Mark Langone, 33, was stopped for the illegal turn and then arrested for DWI.
Mr. Langone refused to take a breath test, was taken into custody, arraigned at Justice Court, and released on his own recognizance with an order to return to court at a later date.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrests
Marc V. Langone, 33, of Cedarhurst, was driving on Congdon Road on Nov. 12 at about 1 p.m. when he was stopped by police for making an improper turn without signaling. He was subsequently arrested for DWI. Mr. Langone refused to take a breath test. He was held at police headquarters before being arraigned in Shelter Island Justice Court and then was released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear in court at a later date.
Summonses
Robert M. Cueva Calle of East Hampton was driving on Manwaring Road on Nov. 10 when he was stopped and ticketed for driving with a permit without a supervising person in the front seat.
Also on the 10th, Juan L. Mejia of Greenport was given a summons for failure to stop at a stop sign on West Neck Road and a second one for unlicensed operation.
Police conducted 11 traffic stops and distracted driving enforcement in the Center, the Heights and West Neck on Nov. 10 through Nov. 12 and Nov. 15 and Nov.16, resulting in five warnings and three tickets.
Accidents
Joseph W. Tyree of Shelter Island was driving north on South Ferry Road on Nov. 10 when a deer ran onto the roadway and into his vehicle, causing over $1,000 in damage to the driver’s-side front panel and the front of the vehicle.
On Nov. 12, Ella Marker of Floral Park was heading north on Clinton Avenue when she drove into an open manhole cover on the roadway. There was over $1,000 damage to the passenger-side control arm and to the axle. The vehicle had to be towed. PSEG and the Heights Highway Department also responded to equipment damage below the manhole.
Paul P. Zubritski of Shelter Island was driving to board the North Ferry on Nov. 13 when the gates closed, causing minor damage to the front right side of his vehicle.
On Nov. 13, Mark J. Rimer of New York City reported he was parked in front of Shelter Island Wine and Liquors on Bridge Street when a pickup truck driven by Darin W. Colhouer of Chantilly, Va. sideswiped his vehicle, causing more than $1,000 in damage to the front left quarter panel. According to a draft report of the accident, police made several attempts to reach Mr. Colhouer when the accident was reported the next day. The phone number given to police was apparently incorrect.
Other reports
On Nov. 11, frayed wires were reported in Menantic; Verizon was notified.
Police investigated a financial crime — grand larceny — called in on Nov. 12.
That day, a caller told police about receiving debit cards in the mail from her bank with unknown names on them — a case of third degree identity theft.
Police were told by a caller on the 12th that he had received a phone call from his bank regarding unauthorized credit card transactions.
A case of criminal mischief was reported on the 12th by a caller who saw tire tracks leading to a series of “donut” maneuvers in Fiske Field that caused damage to the grass. Damage was estimated at less than $250.
Police received a report on Nov. 13 from the driver of a tractor trailer that he had backed into the parking lot at Ice Pond. The vehicle had bottomed out and couldn’t be moved. When an officer arrived, a passing motorist was able to assist the driver.
An anonymous caller told police on the 13th that a small child and dog had been left unattended in a van in the Center with its windows down. Police canvassed the area with negative results.
On Nov. 14, police received a complaint that a person in the Center was installing a fence over a property line.
A caller complained on the 14th that employees at the Recycling Center were not wearing masks as required by New York State Executive Order 202. The responding officer did not observe that but reminded staff at the booth to observe safe distancing.
An officer on patrol on Nov. 15 noticed a tree blocking both lanes of a Center roadway. He cleared one lane and notified the Highway Department to clear the other.
Low hanging wires were reported anonymously in Silver Beach on the 16th. PSEG and Optimum were notified.
In other incidents during the week: police provided two escorts to the ferries; responded to reports of three vehicles with the keys locked inside; helped two residents in their homes; performed school crossing and court duties; dealt with two lost and found cases; attended officer training programs off-Island; and assisted a driver with a disabled vehicle.
Alarms
The Shelter Island Fire Department responded to two alarms in Hay Beach and Cartwright on Nov. 12. A residence was checked for carbon monoxide in one case; the results were negative. A fire alarm in the second turned out to be a false alarm.
A power outage alarm, set off in the Center on Nov. 12, was caused by a temporary power outage in the area.
On the 13th, residential alarms in Mashomack, West Neck and Menantic were set off. Two were activated by accident; the owner of the third residence said it was caused by human error.
A fire alarm on Ram Island on Nov. 14 was set off by the alarm company testing the system. Police responded to a burglary alarm in Hay Beach that day but found no signs of any criminal activity.
An open door caused by high winds caused a burglary alarm in Menantic to activate on Nov. 15.
Animal incidents
An injured loon was reported in West Neck; the animal control officer searched the area without success.
An anonymous caller told police an injured deer was stuck in a metal fence in the Center. An officer, assisted by a caretaker, freed the deer but it sustained major injuries and had to be put down. An injured deer was also reported in the Center but it had gone when the officer arrived. A passing motorist told police about an injured deer in Menantic; the area was canvassed with negative results.
An officer helped an owner find a dog at large in the Center. An officer responded to a report of loose dog in the Center and found it in its own property with the owner.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported four cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Nov. 13, 14 and 15.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrest
Police investigated a complaint made on Nov. 6 about an intruder who had entered and remained unlawfully in a Shelter Island home. Subsequently, Aljean Lee Kivlehan, 37, of Stafford, Va. was identified and arrested in Greenport on Nov. 18 at about 10:30 a.m. He was charged with criminal trespass in the 2nd degree — a misdemeanor.
Mr. Kivlehan was processed at Police Department Headquarters. He was later released on his own recognizance and issued an appearance ticket ordering him to appear in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later time.
Accidents
Sedgwick A. Ward of Shelter Island was driving west on Manwaring Road on Nov. 18 when a deer ran into the front of his vehicle, causing over $1,000 in damage to the front bumper and grill.
Other reports
Police conducted 11 traffic stops and distracted driving enforcement on Nov. 17 and on Nov. 19 through 22 in the Center, the Heights and Hay Beach, resulting in five warnings.
A caller told police on Nov. 17 that something was making a noise upstairs in a West Neck residence. An officer searched the interior with negative findings; no criminal activity was observed.
On request, an officer let two people into a Heights residence on Nov. 17.
A caller reported on Nov. 18 that a vehicle had stopped in front of her Center residence and, when confronted, the driver sped off. She requested that the incident be documented and the driver spoken to. She was advised that no violation of the law had occurred and the incident did not warrant police action. The complainant was advised to call the police if the same vehicle returned.
An open door at a Westmoreland residence was reported on Nov. 18. The door had not been latched properly and the wind had blown it open. An officer checked the interior and found no sign of any criminal activity. The caretaker was notified.
A caller told police for information purposes on Nov. 18 that she had been notified that someone, unauthorized, had attempted to access her accounts.
The next day, an officer responded to a late-night caller who reported that she heard loud noises downstairs in her Menantic residence. The officer found that a squirrel had created minor damage in the kitchen and had run under the dishwasher. Several attempts to remove the squirrel failed and the owner said she would set a “have-a-heart” trap in the morning.
Police were informed on Nov. 20 that an inflatable dinghy had washed ashore in Shorewood. When an officer arrived, the dinghy was no longer there and the caller said someone had loaded it into a truck and left the area.
A broken pipe was reported on a dock in Menantic on Nov. 20; the owner was notified and advised to shut off the valve.
Also on the 20th, an anonymous person reported that the driver of a vehicle had tailgated him, failed to maintain the lane while traveling north on Route 114 in Southampton, and was on a South Ferry boat headed for the Island. An officer responded to South Ferry, interviewed the driver, who failed to maintain the lane, determined the driver was not intoxicated but issued a verbal warning about traffic violations.
A caller told police on Nov. 20 that a female had harassed her in the Center Post Office. She claimed the person was rude; she was advised by an officer that being rude did not rise to the level of harassment.
While on patrol, an officer saw lights on at a West Neck house; there were no signs of any criminal activity. The caretaker was advised of the incident.
On Nov. 22, a caller told police that upon returning home, she noticed broken glass and nails on her porch in Greenport. She was advised to contact the Southold Police Department.
Police were told on Nov. 22 that a pole and two street signs were missing in Silver Beach. The Highway Department was notified.
In other incidents, police provided an escort to the ferry, traced a false 911 call, responded to two lost and found reports, assisted two residents in their homes and attended three training sessions.
Alarms
The Shelter Island Fire Department and police responded to a fire alarm in the Center on Nov. 20; it was declared a false alarm.
A burglary alarm at the Historical Society was activated on Nov. 19. All the exterior doors and windows were secure. A power outage in the area could have set off the alarm.
Animal incidents
A dog at large was reported in Cartwright; an animal control officer (ACO) looked for the dog for one hour unsuccessfully and also spoke to several neighbors about the missing dog.
A caller reported dogs left outside in the Center during cold conditions. The ACO found the dogs inside the residence with the owner.
Police were told that a dog was being kept in a trailer in West Neck; the caller was concerned about the animal’s well-being. An officer spoke to the ACO who had previously talked to the owner, investigated the trailer and concluded the dog was in an appropriate and healthy living situation.
Aided cases
A Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services team transported one person to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Nov. 17; a second case on Nov. 21 refused medical assistance and did not require transportation.
The Shelter Island Police Department is investigating a motor vehicle accident involving a delivery truck and a pedestrian walking on Gardiner’s Bay Drive at about 5 p.m. on November 27.
The incident resulted in serious injuries.
Police said Island resident Lucille Morgan, 66, who was wearing a reflective vest and was displaying a light, was struck by a truck driven by Michael Esso, 52, of Mastic.
Police said Mr. Esso “was apparently distracted [and] left the paved portion of the roadway” and struck Ms. Morgan, who had moved off the road as the vehicle approached.
According to the police, Ms. Morgan, who suffered serious head injuries and traumatic injuries to her body, was transported by Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services to Stony Book Eastern Long Island Hospital.
She was later transported to the trauma center at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Police said the investigation remains active and “summonses for violations of New York State’s traffic law are anticipated.”
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Constantino M. Franco of Southampton was driving on Cartwright Road on Nov. 24 when he was stopped by police and ticketed for having an unregistered trailer.
On Nov. 30, Brayli I. Gonzalez Flete of Amagansett was issued three summonses on South Ferry Road for following too closely to another vehicle, driving an unregistered vehicle and operating without a license.
During the week, police conducted traffic stops and distracted driving and radar enforcement on Nov. 24, 25, 27, 29 and 30 in the Center, the Heights, South Ferry and Ram Island, resulting in five warnings and four tickets.
Accidents
There were two minor accidents involving deer on Nov. 24 and 30. Robert E. Winters of Shelter Island was traveling westbound on West Neck Road when a deer ran onto the roadway, hitting his vehicle. No injuries were reported; the vehicle showed no damage and the deer was gone when police arrived.
John Irving McEnroe of Shelter Island was driving his truck eastbound on Smith Street when a deer ran out on the road and into his vehicle, causing minor damage to the lower right rear door. The deer ran off.
Other reports
A caller requested police assistance on Nov. 24 in entering a house after the locks had been changed. She was advised this was a civil matter and should be handled by her attorney.
On Nov. 24, police received a call, for informational purposes, about an item that had been left on her Center residence front door knob.
A caller reported being a victim of identity theft in a Social Security scam on Nov. 25.
On that day, police received a report of a male in Prospect Park with a street sign. An officer located the person who said he had found the sign in Greenport on an earlier date. The Shelter Island Highway Department supervisor was not able to determine if the sign was stolen but said he would contact the Police Department if he wanted to pursue charges.
Also on the 25th, a Highway Department caller told police he had advised a man to leave the Recycling Center because it was closed and was concerned he might attempt to reenter the facility. An officer spoke to the individual and told him not to reenter.
Police were told about an arcing wire in the Heights on Nov. 26. PSEG was advised.
A caller reported people skeet shooting in the area of Silver Beach on Nov. 27. An officer saw them shooting in a safe direction over water. They were advised to clean up when they were finished. Gun shots were reported in Hay Beach on that day; the area was canvassed with negative results.
A complainant called to report a large gathering of young people in South Ferry Hills on Nov. 27 — a violation of NYS Executive Order 202. Officers found four people in the kitchen of the residence and were told that no more than seven had been there earlier in the evening. They were reminded about social distancing. The complaint was considered unfounded.
Police were told that an erratic driver was passing vehicles at a high rate of speed at South Ferry. An officer found no vehicle matching the description along the route.
An officer on patrol on Nov. 28 noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from a vehicle parked along Ram Island Drive. The driver agreed to a search of the vehicle, which was conducted with negative results.
The next day, an open door at a West Neck residence was noted by an officer on patrol who searched the home and found no obvious signs of any criminal acts; the caretaker was notified.
Also on the 29th, police investigated a report of bonfires on a Center beach. Two small fires were located and the people involved were advised to clean up and make sure the fires were out before leaving.
A caller told police on the 29th that a vehicle parked on basketball courts in the Center was playing music. An officer responded but the vehicle had gone.
On Nov. 30, a person reported being a victim of an Amazon phone scam. Also on that date, another caller reported being a victim of identity theft and possibly a bank loan scam.
For information purposes, police were told on Nov. 30 that a truck was repeatedly driving slowly past the caller’s residence in Silver Beach.
On the same day, low hanging wires in the Heights were reported; police closed the road and notified PSEG. The utility company was also called about a downed tree on wires in Longview.
In other reports, police responded to two cases of keys locked in vehicles, assisted two residents in their homes, handled two lost and found calls, conducted a well-being check, responded to a false 911 call, attended off-Island training, provided a funeral escort and performed court duty.
Alarms
The Shelter Island Fire Department and police responded to a carbon monoxide alarm in Menantic on Nov. 23. It was determined to be a false alarm.
Two residential alarms were activated on Nov. 24 and 30 in Menantic and West Neck respectively. There was no sign of forced entry in one; the open garage door in the second was probably caused by high winds.
Animal incidents
Two injured deer were reported on West Neck and Dering Harbor properties. Officers responded and had to put down both deer.
A lost dog on Ram Island was found before an officer arrived. An animal control officer (ACO) searched unsuccessfully for a dog at large in the Center. Another dog at large in the Center was found simultaneously by its owner and the ACO.
An ACO followed a loose dog at a Center intersection home and informed the owners who hadn’t realized the dog had gotten out.
A caller complained about a neighbor’s dog that relieved itself on her Center property. The ACO gave the dog’s owner a final warning to keep the dog on its own property; the owner said he was doing his best to do so.
A dog escaped from a Cartwright yard. An ACO searched the area but the dog returned home on its own.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams responded to a case on Nov. 29, but medical attention was refused. A second person was transported to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Nov. 30.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Michael Eso of Mastic was driving on Gardiners Bay Drive on Nov. 27 when he was stopped by police and given a ticket for moving unsafely out of the lane.
On Dec. 2, police ticketed Azucena Quishpe of East Hampton on Manwaring Road for driving with inadequate/no brake lights. Maria V. Montalvo of Shelter Island was driving on School Street on Dec. 4 when she was also given a summons for having inadequate/no brake lights.
The same day, Susan Wasilewski of Key West, Fla. was issued a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign on West Neck Avenue.
Accidents
Scott A. Oversteet of Shelter Island was driving east on South Midway Road on Dec. 1 when a deer ran on the road and into his vehicle, causing over $1,000 in damage to the passenger-side and front of the car. There were no injuries.
Other reports
A caller confirmed on Dec. 1 that an unknown person had entered his Ram Island residence on a prior reported burglary.
Police were informed on Dec. 1 that a woman had found a paddle boat adrift in Menantic and would secure it to her dock until claimed or removed by police.
A complainant told police that a group of young people had been skateboarding on multiple occasions in the Center after being advised not to. Although the youths were not currently on the property, the caller requested an extra patrol of the area.
Following up on an earlier report of a garage alarm on Ram Island, police searched the area and found both the residence and the garage were secure with no sign of any criminal activity.
On Dec. 2, a caller asked for an extra patrol and reported that her caretaker had seen an unknown vehicle parked in her Center driveway while passing by. The caretaker returned later to find the vehicle gone and the residence secure.
Later on the 2nd, an officer, conducting an extra patrol in the Center, saw a vehicle parked at the same residence. The home was searched with no signs of any criminal activity; the area was canvassed for the owner/driver with negative results.
Police were told that someone was behaving strangely in the Heights on Dec. 2. An officer canvassed the area with negative results. The same day, a caller reported, for information purposes only, that a person, identified, was acting erratically in an office in the Heights.
On Dec. 5, a caller reported that her Center neighbor was stuck on the roof and needed assistance in getting down. Officers helped the neighbor back to the ground without incident.
A large tree limb was reported down on wires by the horse farm in the Center on Dec. 5. PSEG was notified.
An officer noticed a small fire burning in one of the mulch piles at the Recycling Center on Dec. 6. The Highway Department superintendent said this happened regularly in that area. He notified police that the fire would be extinguished and the mulch pile turned to prevent further incidents.
A fallen stop sign was reported anonymously on Dec. 6 in Silver Beach. An officer noticed that the sign pole appeared to have been blown over.
Police were informed by South Ferry that a passenger had left the ferry without paying. The caller did not wish to pursue charges but wanted the suspect to return and pay the fee. An officer canvassed the area with negative results.
On the 7th, a caller said that his Longview neighbor’s rear door was open and he knew they were not home. No sign of any criminal activity was found; high winds may have blown the door open.
Police conducted an inventory and audit of the department’s property records to ensure compliance with official directives. Fifty items were reviewed, including money, firearms, controlled substances and items of high value.
In other incidences, police unlocked three vehicles with the keys locked inside, handled two lost and found cases, attended off-Island and webinar training, helped a resident at home, conducted two well-being checks and performed court duty.
Alarms
The Shelter Island Fire Department and police responded to a carbon monoxide alarm in West Neck on Dec. 5; it was set off by a malfunctioning furnace.
Two residential alarms were activated in Hay Beach and Silver Beach on Dec. 6 and 7 respectively. There was no criminal activity and the places were secure.
Animal reports
A kitten darted out of an open door in Silver Beach and was reported lost. An animal control officer (ACO) responded and advised the owner to post a photo of the missing kitten on social media and in the neighborhood.
A small dog with a light-up collar was seen running along a Center roadway; the area was searched with negative results. A Lab mix was found near a South Ferry Hills intersection; police located the owner via microchip and returned the dog.
Dogs at large were reported in the Center — an ongoing problem, the caller said. Both dogs had returned home prior to the ACO’s arrival.
An injured turkey was reported in Menantic; a wildlife rehabilitation center advised the ACO to leave it there. Another injured turkey was seen in a Shorewood yard; when police and the ACO arrived, it had gone.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported four people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Dec. 4 and 5. A fifth person was taken to Southampton Hospital on Dec. 3. An aided case on Dec. 3 refused medical attention.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Jesus Epifanio Velasquez Tipaz of Riverhead was driving on North Ferry Road on Dec. 9 when he was stopped by police and ticketed for having non-transparent side windows. He was also given a summons for unlicensed operation.
On Dec. 12, Amos Goodman of East Hampton was ticketed for driving at a speed not reasonable and prudent on South Ferry Road.
Mathew Mortillo of Greenport was stopped by police on Dec. 14 on Ram Island Road and given a summons for making an insufficient turn signal. He was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operation in the 2nd degree.
Police conducted traffic stops and distracted driving enforcement in the Center and Menantic from Dec. 8 through Dec. 14, resulting in six warnings and three tickets.
Accidents
Louis F. Glaser told police that while he was in the North Ferry Line on Dec. 8, a vehicle driven by Yunior A. Lugo of Jersey City, N.J., was traveling northbound when he sideswiped Mr. Glaser’s vehicle, causing minor damage (under $1,000) to the left side mirror. The driver could not be interviewed since he had left on the ferry before the accident was reported. Later in the day, Sean Clark told police that he was not driving the vehicle but had opened his passenger door, while stopped, which hit the mirror of Mr. Glaser’s vehicle, causing the damage.
On Dec. 12, Patricia Helen Olstad of Southold was driving north on South Ferry Road when a deer ran into her vehicle, causing damage to the front in excess of $1,000. The deer was put down by police.
Other reports
A caller reported on Dec. 8 that a person had obtained his new phone number and had messaged him about a recent incident, which the caller wanted police to document. An officer advised him that no offenses had been committed and no orders of protection had been in place.
On Dec. 9, police impounded three dinghys, a kayak and an inflatable on Ram Island, Cartwright and Silver Beach that were in violation of the town code regarding boat storage.
A caller told police on Dec. 9 that there might be a broken water pipe at her neighbor’s unoccupied house in the Center. An officer contacted the owner who said the outside hose had been left on.
Police responded to a domestic dispute in Hay Beach on Dec. 9.
On the 10th, a caller was concerned that a person in Hay Beach was illegally hunting. Officers responded, interviewed the hunter and found no illegal activity.
An office on patrol on that day noticed a vehicle parked in the driveway of an abandoned residence on Ram Island. On investigation, it turned out that the owner was inspecting a bulkhead at that location.
A group of young people were reported skateboarding in a Center parking lot on Dec. 10. They were told that was not allowed and agreed to leave without incident. Following a second complaint, an officer returned again and found the youths sitting on a bench waiting for their parents to pick them up.
Also on the 10th, a box truck driver reported his vehicle was disabled on a Center roadway. An officer assisted with traffic control; the towing company was notified and towed the delivery truck to Greenport.
The next day, a caller documented a civil dispute with a Silver Beach neighbor. An officer on patrol that day saw an open garage door with the lights on in Hay Beach. A construction employee was on the site and said there were no problems.
On Dec. 12, police received a phone call about a suspicious incident in the Center. (No further information was given in the police blotter.) Also on the 12th, a caller reported hearing gunshots every 15 minutes for two hours in Silver Beach. An officer canvassed the area, heard no gunshots and didn’t see any suspicious vehicles.
Gunshots were also heard in Westmoreland, coming from the area of West Neck Bay on Dec. 13. There were negative results of a police search of the area.
A caller told police that loud leaf blowers were being operated for over an hour in Hay Beach on the 13th. The responding officer did not find the noise unreasonable, given the time and location and said there was no violation of the town code.
Police were asked for information about the eviction process and advised the caller to contact the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. There is no requirement that the Police Department would receive notification of an eviction, an officer explained.
In other incidents during the week, police checked on the well-being of three people, unlocked a vehicle with the keys inside, responded to two lost and found reports, released an impounded vehicle, attended Webinar training and assisted a resident in the home.
Alarms
A residential alarm was set off on Dec. 12 on Ram Island; the alarm company informed police that it was a false alarm due to technical issues.
Police and the Shelter Island Fire Department responded to two fire alarms on Dec. 13 and 14 at a home in the Center and the Chequit Inn respectively. The first was declared a false alarm; the second was caused by a steak cooking in the employees’ lounge.
On the 14th, an alarm was activated at the front door of a Dering Harbor residence. Police found no sign of a forced entry. The door may have been blown open.
Animal reports
A beached seal was reported at Reel Point. An animal control officer (ACO) found the seal was a healthy adult, just sunning himself.
A caller noticed a dead dog on the beach in West Neck. An ACO searched the area unsuccessfully.
An injured rabbit was brought into Police Headquarters. An ACO arranged to transport the rabbit to a vet.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported three cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Dec. 8, 10 and 13.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrest
Police issued a field appearance ticket to Anabelle Grace Landau, 19, of Port Washington on Dec. 18 for unlawful possession of marijuana. She was driving on North Cartwright Road when she was pulled over for a vehicle and traffic stop. Ms. Landau was instructed to appear in Shelter Island Justice Court at a later time.
Summonses
Carly S. Hecht of Sands Point was driving on Burns Road on Dec. 18 when she was given a ticket for failure to keep right.
Police conducted traffic stops and distracted driving and DWI enforcement on Dec. 16 and Dec. 18 through 20 in the Center, West Neck and Menantic, resulting in 12 warnings.
Accidents
Andreas C. Vatakis of Irvington was driving west on Gardiners Bay Drive on Dec. 16 when he was unable to negotiate a curve on the road due to snowy conditions. His vehicle slid off the roadway, taking down a stop sign and getting stuck in an embankment. Damage to the passenger-side exceeded $1,000. There were no injuries and the vehicle was towed.
Less than two hours later, Sarah H. Hand of Brooklyn was traveling south on West Neck Road when she lost control of the vehicle in the snow and slid off the roadway, hitting a Terry Drive street sign. Damage to the driver’s front and side was estimated at over $1,000. No injuries were reported.
On Dec. 18, Timothy M. Hogue of Shelter Island was driving north on North Ferry Road when a deer ran onto the roadway, hitting the front of his vehicle and causing over $1,000 in damages. According to the draft police report, there were no injuries.
Other reports
Based on an anonymous complaint, police opened a drug-related investigation on Dec. 15.
On that date, a caller reported being the recipient of harassment.
On the 16th, police notified the Highway Departments of the town, the Heights and Dering Harbor about hazardous roadways due to snow.
On the 17th and 18th, several reports were received of downed trees in the Center and the Heights — blocking roadways and leaning on wires. A sparking wire was reported in Silver Beach; PSEG was notified.
Icy road conditions in Dering Harbor were reported on the 18th and 19th; the Dering Harbor Highway Department was notified.
Police were told a kayak was adrift in Coecles Harbor on Dec. 17. A bay constable noticed it nearing Mashomack Preserve but weather conditions prevented its recovery.
A homeowner reported on the 17th that when she returned home, she found damage to her Center fence, caused by a vehicle that had left the scene.
An officer on patrol that day found a disabled vehicle at a Center intersection with the driver attempting to secure the lower bumper, which had come loose after running over a pile of snow. The officer assisted the driver in temporarily securing the bumper.
On the 17th, police heard from a caller who said that he might have information regarding a case in Riverhead. He was advised to contact that police department directly.
A caller reported that a vehicle parked outside her residence in the Heights had its parking lights on all night. An officer located the owners who said they forgot to turn off the lights.
In other reports during the week, officers checked on the well-being of one person, unlocked a vehicle with the keys inside, responded to a lost and found incident and performed court duty.
Alarms
Two residential alarms were set off on Ram Island and in Westmoreland on Dec. 16. There was no sign of a forced entry in the window of a detached garage in one case; in the second, strong winds may have opened a kitchen door.
A burglary alarm was set off on the 16th in Silver Beach; a toddler had activated it by mistake.
On the 18th, police responded to a fourth alarm in Menantic, set off at a sliding glass door; no signs of any criminal activity were found.
Animal incidents
An injured raven was reported in West Neck. An animal control officer (ACO) captured the bird and transported it to a vet.
Five reports of injured deer were called in. One was stuck in a Center fence and had to be cut free. Two in the Center were being tracked by hunters when police arrived. Two in Menantic and Silver Beach had to be put down by police.
A caller told police about receiving a superficial dog bite in Long View. An ACO notified the dog’s owner about the 10-day quarantine period and the need to license the dog. The caller, who is the owner’s caregiver, said the dog was very friendly and the bite accidental.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported three cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Dec. 15 and 20. A fourth case refused medical attention.
At the beginning of the year, the Reporter is looking back on some significant stories we brought to our readers in 2020.
He thought he was prepared for the worst. But what Father Charles McCarron discovered, checking on an elderly friend and colleague one midday two years ago, was a horrific and heartbreaking crime, something he said he could never have prepared for.
A crime that is still unsolved
“It’s been kind of like a PTSD event for me,” Father McCarron, the pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, said last week.
That bright, windy March day, he had gone to Reverend Canon Paul Wancura’s home in Silver Beach. The retired 87-year-old Episcopal minister had been absent for Sunday services at a church in West Islip where he had assisted most weekends. The widowed churchman, who had no living close relatives, had not answered his phone or responded to messages.
“It was remarkable, even at 87, that he never missed a service, driving there every Sunday,” Father McCarron said. “Something was wrong.”
He entered the waterfront house on Oak Tree Lane, the one-lane road that leads to Shell Beach, through the garage door, which Rev. Wancura had a habit of leaving open.
“Knowing his age, I was prepared to find that he might have fallen, or was ill,” Father McCarron said. “But not what I found.”
The elderly minister was in a bedroom, trapped in a corner in a heap between the bed and a wall, with his wrists tightly bound. It was determined that he had been in that state from three to seven days, Shelter Island Police Chief Jim Read said. Rev. Wancura was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital and placed in the intensive care unit.
He never left it.
We’ve run every lead down, and everything that comes in, we run it down. We want to bring this in.
Det. Lt. Kevin Beyrer, SCPD
After enduring multiple blood transfusions and the amputation of his left hand, the venerable priest succumbed to his wounds on April 16, 2018, just short of a month after being found. The official cause of death was sepsis, which is a system-wide infection, usually caused by injuries.
He was lucid and his own personable self during his time in the ICU, Father McCarron and others said, receiving friends and colleagues at his bedside. At times he rallied, giving hope he’d pull through. But being tied up for days, immobile against a wall, had been too much for the nearly 90-year-old man.
A visitor to the hospital, a veteran of Vietnam, said he had never seen such serious wounds since his service in the war.
The crime has been characterized as the worst in the Island’s history.
A watch police believe may have been taken from the home. (Courtesy of Suffolk PD)
“ACTIVE”
Over the past two years, there have been no arrests, and no suspects identified. The Shelter Island Police and the Suffolk County Police departments have designated the crime as a home invasion, burglary — several items of jewelry were stolen — and a homicide. Both departments say the investigation is “active.”
Adding to the mystery, is that soon after Father McCarron’s discovery of Rev. Wancura, the police reported another burglary on Oak Tree Lane they estimated occurred on the afternoon of March 4, when the owners “returned after being away for an extended period of time,” Chief Read said at the time. “Detectives are exploring the possibility that the burglary and the discovery of a burglary two weeks ago in the same area might be connected.” The chief added that the second incident is “broadening the scope of looking at suspects.”
About a month after the first reports of the incident surfaced, the police released a description and photograph of one of the items stolen from Rev. Wancura’s residence, a Lucien Piccard Seashark watch. A $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers has been posted for two years. Anyone with information is urged to phone 1-800-220-TIPS.
Chief Read, within a few days of the reports from Oak Tree Lane, said it was “not a random incident.” Detective Lieutenant Kevin Beyrer, commanding officer of the Suffolk County Police Department’s homicide squad, confirmed last week that assessment is still the belief of the investigators.
“There were elements of the crime that led us to believe that, whoever did this, planned it and knew what they were doing going into it,” Det. Beyrer told the Reporter. “We don’t believe that the person or persons who did this thought they were going into an unoccupied house.”
One of Rev. Wancura’s friends, who had visited him in the hospital, said that he had told him it was not “persons” who had committed the crime, but one man. When this was mentioned to the detective last week, he confirmed that the victim “did speak about one person, but we don’t want to limit ourselves. We want to keep our options open.”
The officer said his department has “looked at hundreds of people, everyone he had contact with,” noting that a clergyman “has contacts with hundreds of people.”
Rumors were part of nearly every Island conversation in the weeks after the homicide. One that stuck was that an employee on a crew working on bulkheads in the area could be counted as a suspect. Det. Beyrer is aware of the theory, but said at this point it is just that.
It’s in no way a cold case, he said, even though lately, tips on information have been few and far between. In the beginning of an investigation, especially one with the notoriety of the Wancura case, the police receive a lot of tips, he added.
“People come up with theories,” Det. Beyrer said. “Different ideas, things we might not have seen.”
But over time, the rate of the public’s contact with the police providing information drops, he said.
“We’ve run every lead down, and everything that comes in, we run it down,” the detective said. “We want to bring this in.”
After the crime became known, a sense of fear flooded through every Island neighborhood, affecting people of all ages, but especially senior citizens. The Island was that cliched place where people didn’t feel the need to lock their doors at night. The incident on Oak Tree Lane inspired the town supervisor at the time, Gary Gerth, to sum up what was on the minds of many residents: “This has shattered the innocence of Shelter Island.”
SHOCK
Reports of the case, of an elderly minister assaulted, bound, left alone and subsequently dying from the attack, in a small Island town that had only one other reported homicide in its nearly 300-year history, attracted extraordinary attention. There were stories in media outlets as far afield as Britain.
Steps were taken with the town, through the office of Senior Services, to stay in constant touch with the 60 or so elderly Islanders who live here alone.
“We are a strong people,” the supervisor said at the time, and he urged residents to “be vigilant.”
But two years can be a long time, Laurie Fanelli, the director of Senior Services, said recently, noting that after the news spread, doors were locked and people had taken the supervisor’s advice to be vigilant. “But now, doors are back open,” Ms. Fanelli said. “There was more of a neighborhood watch, neighbor was helping neighbor and there was more cohesion. Now, I think that’s been put away.”
Asked if that was a good or bad thing, Ms. Fanelli said in some ways it was a better attitude. “At least they can sleep,” she said, adding that she’d heard of one elderly citizen “who had the entire house illuminated all night.”
The Senior Center is still in close touch with those living alone, and, Ms. Fanelli said, services such as Meals on Wheels continue to be attentive to the well-being and safety of their clients.
A RENAISSANCE MAN
For many of his friends, what has been lost over time after the frightening and gruesome incident, is the quality of person Rev. Wancura was throughout his life.
An Episcopal archdeacon of Suffolk County, he served in many roles throughout the Diocese of Long Island, including, for a decade, serving at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Greenport. A graduate of Queens College and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Administration, he held a Master of Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary in New York City.
He had also served with the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps in Austria and France, before finding his vocation in the Episcopal priesthood.
Rev. Wancura was interred in the cemetery of the Caroline Church of Brookhaven in Setauket on April 23, 2018 where he had served as pastor for close to three decades. He was laid to rest alongside his wife, Helena, who died in 2007.
At a memorial service held at St. Mary’s in April 2018, his friend, Islander Twoey Brayson, noted that Rev. Wancura met Helena at St. Mary’s, when she was a parish administrator. “Their union was one of graciousness and full of love,” Mr. Brayson said.
Mr. Brayson remembered Rev. Wancura as a man of “keen intellect,” who was versed in history and theology, who “liked to dance, sing, enjoyed a good cigar and a wee dram of Scotch … He was still a student. He never acted old.”
Over the past two years he’s thought often about his friend, Mr. Brayson said last week. “Even though he was content to be alone, Paul claimed to not be lonely. To the contrary, he could be a very sociable fellow, a good storyteller, a gracious host or guest,” he said. “He loved Shelter Island for its natural beauty but also for its peacefulness … Paul is truly missed by all who knew him, loved him and were enriched by having him in their lives.”
Also reached last week, Michael Russell, a parishioner of the Caroline Church, recalled Rev. Wancura as an energetic and dynamic pastor. “A whole bunch of us became parishioners after meeting him,” Mr. Russell said. “He built our church up. Our Sunday school is flourishing.”
But Mr. Russell’s memories of Rev. Wancura are more as a dear friend than a pastor. He recalled many visits to Shelter Island and “countless, happy hours” of vibrant conversation with his friend. “He was a Renaissance man, 87 going on 50,” Mr. Russell said.
Father Peter DeSanctis, pastor of Our Lady of the Isle, remembered him as a man of dedication “to Our Lord, to his wife and to his professional obligations. Paul was always on the alert, not waiting for the phone to ring or the knock on the door, for situations where an intervention would be helpful.”
Father DeSanctis especially remembered his friend’s selflessness, recalling that when he first visited him in the ICU, before he had a chance to speak, Rev. Wancura asked him how he was doing, and about Father DeSanctis’ brother.
“He was thinking about me, and there he was in his hospital bed,” the priest said.
Father Charles McCarron, pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, at a memorial service in May 2018 for his friend, Reverend Paul Wancura. (Credit: Beverlea Walz))
A BLESSING
Asked about the day he found his friend, and the images that accompany his memory, Father McCarron said he’s “talked about it and worked through it” with a person in his diocese who counsels priests on personal issues.
He said that at the annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Mary’s, he blessed a statue of St. Francis. “We put it at the entrance of the garden” at the Oak Tree Lane house. “It’s a concrete — literally — reminder of who he was,” Father McCarron said.
He paused, and added, “ Paul is where he always wanted to be. I believe he’s doing pretty good.”
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Mary E. Lebey of New York City was driving on Ram Island Road on Dec. 27 when she was stopped by police and ticketed for driving at a speed not reasonable or prudent.
On Jan. 2, Larsen T. McDowell of New York City was stopped by police and given a summons on South Cartwright Road for making an unsafe turn/without a signal.
Police conducted 23 traffic stops and distracted driving enforcement on Dec. 24, Dec. 26 through 29, Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 through 4, in the Center, South Ferry, Cartwright, the Heights, West Neck and Ram Island, resulting in 15 warnings and two tickets.
Accidents
Patricia A Saxon of Southampton told police that while driving north on Cartwright Road on Dec. 26 she was unable to negotiate the curve in the roadway due to her speed and hit a rock on the side of the road. Damage in excess of $1,000 was listed in the draft report to the right side and undercarriage of the vehicle. There were no injuries; the vehicle was towed.
Ms. Saxon was ticketed for driving at a speed not reasonable or prudent and for failure to keep to the right.
On Dec. 28, Yenifer Elizabeth Guerra of Greenport was driving south on New York Avenue when a deer ran onto the roadway, hitting the passenger-side front of the vehicle and causing over $1,000 in damage. According to the draft report, the injured deer was put down by police.
Other reports
An owner received a notice on Dec. 22 that the front door of a Center home was open; an officer found all doors and windows secure and no problems.
A caller told police on that date that a vehicle parked in the roadway in Westmoreland was blocking a private drive. An extra patrol was requested. The area was canvassed with negative results.
On Dec. 23, a caller in the Heights reported receiving a check that did not clear his bank account. He was advised that this was a civil matter and that he should follow up with an attorney and small claims court.
Police received a call on Dec. 23 that an order of protection, issued following a domestic dispute, may have been violated.
On the 24th, police received a complaint about a person who directed mail to the wrong PO Box. The post office will follow up.
Police investigated a report of a case of larceny on Dec. 24. The money was found and returned to the owner.
A caller told police that a hunter was walking in the woods in Hay Beach on Dec. 25. An officer located the hunter who said he was tracking a deer.
Police received a report on that day about a vehicle unable to maintain a lane on North Ferry Road; the area was canvassed with negative results.
Also on the 25th, a complainant said he was receiving numerous harassing phone calls; police notified the caller who said she would not contact the person again.
Police were told on the 26th, for information purposes, that someone was taking videos of him while he worked.
A caller reported two trees were leaning on primary wires; although there were no outages, PSEG was notified.
The same day, a lost metal boat dolly was reported at Crescent Beach. The owner thought the dolly might have been dragged into the water by an outgoing tide. The area was canvassed with negative results.
A dog at large was reported on Dec. 27 in Silver Beach; an animal control officer joined in the search. The dog was located by its owner.
A property line dispute was reported in Menantic on Dec. 28. Gunshots in the neighborhood of Gardiners Bay County Club were also called in; the area was searched with negative results.
Also on the 28th, a Center resident told police his neighbor has an outdoor lighting fixture that shines directly into his bedroom. Police sent the report to the Building Department as a possible dark sky violation.
On Dec. 29, police received a request for information about recovering marital property in Hay Beach.
A caller told police on Dec. 30 about finding a tree stand on vacant land in West Neck and said he did not want hunting on the property. The hunter was told to remove the stand and not to hunt on the land. The caller was advised to post the property.
On that date, police received additional information regarding an alcohol-related incident.
A sailboat was reported aground north of Crescent Beach on Dec 30. The owner was notified. A domestic dispute in Cartwright was not declared an emergency.
A Center caller reported smoke coming from a neighbor’s chimney; the owner said that steam was escaping from a vent as a result of restarting the furnace.
Loud music was called in anonymously on New Year’s Eve on Ram Island. An officer spoke to the owner who said the music would be kept at a lower volume. Another anonymous caller reported loud music and talking at a Hay Beach residence on Jan. 3. An officer responded and requested that the outside music be turned off and the noise kept to a reasonable level.
An extra patrol was requested on Jan. 1 after a caller said that he had seen trash containing bottles in the woods on Ram Island and believed that young people were drinking on the town’s property.
That day, a caller reported a vehicle with its hazard lights on in the Center. The driver had stopped to buy firewood.
A dog at large in the Center was called in; the animal control officer recognized the dog and returned it to its owner.
On the 2nd, low hanging wires were reported blocking an entrance to the IGA. Verizon responded. A possible electrical fire was reported in the Center. The Shelter Island Fire Department responded; PSEG was notified, the cable disconnected and breakers turned off at the house.
On the same day, officers assisted the Riverhead police in the search for a missing kayaker. No one was found; South Ferry was alerted and monitoring the marine channel.
On Jan. 3, police provided an escort for a person retrieving property at a Hay Beach residence. That day, a person walking her dog in Menantic, reported an unknown man sitting on the front porch of a vacant home. An officer found the person to be the listed caretaker of the property; he was waiting for a ride home.
In other incidents during the holidays, police conducted traffic duty, responded to six lost and found reports, performed three well-being checks, handled a false 911 call and verified a VIN for an out-of-state DMV.
Alarms
The Fire Department responded to four alarm calls on Dec. 26 and 28 – on Ram Island and in the Center. One was not an emergency and the fire chief advised the owners to service the heating unit and the alarm system. Another was caused by smoke created by steam in the basement; a third may have been set of by a faulty sensor or a blowback; and a fourth was a smoke alarm caused by wood next to the fireplace that caught fire.
A commercial alarm at the Historical Society was tripped accidentally on Dec. 23 and smoke from starting a wood stove in the Center set off another alarm on Dec. 30.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported six cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Dec. 22, 26, 29 and 30 and Jan. 4.
Fire scorches North Ferry Road residence
By Archer Brown
At 11:20 on the morning of Dec. 29, Shelter Island police officers and members of the Shelter Island Fire Department responded to a called-in report of a fire at a home on 171 D North Ferry Road.
The home was unoccupied and when they arrived, the fire had spread to the side and front of the residence. Detective Sergeant Jack Thilberg said the Fire Department quickly brought the fire under control and extinguished it. He added that an Emergency Medical Services team was on stand-by but no injuries were reported.
The Police Department investigated and said the origin of the fire was caused by a neighbor disposing of fireplace ash outdoors that may have contained live embers. These ignited with leaves and other materials on the ground and, given heavy wind conditions, spread the fire to the side of the residence, igniting the siding materials.
There was no internal damage, Sgt. Thilberg said, just the burned siding on the side and front of the house. Police said there was no sign of any criminal activity and the fire has been classified as accidental.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Summonses
Norma A. Nunez-Nunez of Shelter Island was driving on North Ferry Road on Jan. 5 when she was stopped by police and ticketed for having inadequate or no lights. She received a second summons for unlicensed operation.
Christianne A. McGinn of East Hampton was ticketed on the 6th on North Ferry Road for also not having adequate lights.
On Jan. 8, Gregory D. Johnston of East Hampton was ticketed on West Neck Road for making an insufficient turn signal — less than 100 feet from the turn.
Mauricio R. Narvaez of Calverton was driving on West Neck Road on Jan. 8 when he was given a summons for making an improper or unsafe turn/without signaling.
Police conducted traffic stops and radar and distracted driving enforcement in the Center, Menantic and the Heights from Jan. 5 through 10, resulting in 14 warnings and four tickets. One parking ticket was issued during the week.
Accidents
Aidan R. Poleshuk was driving south on North Ferry Road on Jan. 7 when a deer ran onto the roadway, hitting the vehicle on the passenger side and causing over $1,000 in damage. There were no injuries.
On Jan. 11, Barbara E. Debevoise of Shelter Island told police that as she was backing out of her driveway onto North Menantic Road, she hit a Suffolk County Department of Public Works vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. A witness said in the draft police report that she tried to alert the driver before the collision but Ms. Debevoise reported she neither saw nor heard the warning. Damages exceeded $1,000 to the rear of Ms. Debevoise’s vehicle and the center of the driver’s-side panel of the county vehicle.
Ms. Debevoise was issued a summons because the driver’s view was obstructed by objects inside the vehicle.
Other reports
Shelter Island Police officers assisted the Southold Police Department on Jan. 6 in a search for a person whose cellphone indicated an Island location. Officers searched the area with negative results; the individual was subsequently located by Southold police.
On Jan. 8, a caller reported that a person was hunting on town property behind her Cartwright residence; she was concerned about her safety and that of others. An officer talked to the hunter, identified by the caller, who denied he was gun hunting on the property and did not have a deer in his possession. He was advised about the laws regarding gun hunting in general and on town property.
A person told police about a vehicle that failed to keep in lane in Cartwright on Jan. 8. An officer located the parked vehicle and interviewed the driver who said he was looking at houses and had accidentally swerved into the other lane. He was given a warning.
Also on that date, an anonymous caller reported seeing a vehicle, earlier in the day, that failed to maintain the lane. An officer interviewed the vehicle’s owner who said her caretaker, who was driving the vehicle to the doctor’s, had a medical emergency and was having trouble seeing.
A lost dog was reported found in the Center; an officer returned the dog to its owner.
On the 9th, a customer was reported leaving a Heights business without paying. It was later learned that there had been a problem with the credit card reader and the person was not aware the transaction had not gone through.
Police were told about a blown transformer on a pole in the Center on the 9th; PSEG responded.
Shelter Island Police officers were informed about a confidential tip from Crime Stoppers of Suffolk County on Jan. 10.
An extra radar patrol was requested on that date for St. Mary’s Road during morning commutes — 6:30 to 8 a.m.
Also on the 10th, a caller told police, for information purposes only, about a verbal confrontation between herself and another person in South Ferry Hills. A second report about the argument was filed on Jan. 11.
A person told police on Jan. 10 that she was lost on a trail in Mashomack Preserve and requested assistance. Before an officer could arrive, the caller said she had located her car and no longer needed help.
On Jan. 11, a Heights caller told police, for information purposes, that a customer had refused to pay for a special order. An officer advised the caller that the incident was a civil matter.
On the same day, police investigated a case of an internet-based scam, reported by a Cartwright resident.
In other incidents, police responded to a lost and found report, notified the Highway Department to remove two dead deer and unlocked two vehicles with the keys inside.
Alarms
On Jan. 11, a motion alarm was set off at a residence in the Heights. An officer found all the doors and windows were secure. The owner was notified.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported four cases to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Jan. 5, 8, 9 and 11. Two people were taken to Southampton Hospital on Jan. 5 and 11.
The Shelter Island Police Department has reported the arrest of an East Hampton man on multiple charges.
On Monday afternoon at about 1:40 p.m., police said Glenn C. Specht, 49, was stopped for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
Mr. Specht was then arrested, police said, for driving while intoxicated, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle without a valid inspection certificate, and failure to stop at the stop sign.
Mr. Specht was taken into custody and transported to Shelter Island Police headquarters where he was processed and detained until arraignment.
Those named in arrest reports or receiving police summonses have not been convicted of a crime. In court, the charges against them may be reduced or withdrawn or the defendants may be found not guilty.
Arrest
Glenn C. Specht, 49, of East Hampton was pulled over by police during a traffic stop at South Ferry on Jan. 18 at 1:38 p.m. for failure to stop at a stop sign. He was subsequently arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated DWI. Police also charged him with drinking alcohol while driving and operating a vehicle without a valid inspection certificate.
Mr. Specht had been advised earlier in the day on a job site in South Ferry Hills not to drive.
He was taken to Police headquarters, processed and detained until arraignment in Shelter Island Justice Court.
Summonses
A town code summons was issued to Mary A. Reiter of Shelter Island on Jan. 13 for allowing her dog to run at large on Quail and Fox Hollow roads.
Carron M. Sherry of New York City was ticketed by police on Jan. 12 on North Midway Road for failure to stop at a stop sign.
Eric C. Tonyes was driving on New York Avenue on Jan. 13 when he was given a summons for speeding — 35 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone.
Also on the 13th, S. Terzi-Bamberger of Southampton was stopped for failure to keep right on North Ferry Road and also ticketed for driving an unregistered vehicle.
On Jan. 14, Wilfin R. Cruz of Riverhead was ticketed for speeding on St. Mary’s Road — 44 mph in a 35-mph zone. He received a second ticket for unlicensed operation.
Blanca U. Garrido-Palencia of Calverton was given a summons on Jan. 14 for speeding on St. Mary’s Road — 46 mph in a 35-mph zone.
That day, Andrew H. Payne of Shelter Island received two tickets for driving an unregistered and uninspected vehicle on North Ferry Road.
Kenia R. Nunez-Leon was stopped on North Ferry Road for failure to keep right on Jan. 16 and issued a second ticket for driving while her registration was suspended/revoked.
From Jan. 12 through 17, police conducted 32 traffic and distracted driving and radar enforcement stops in the Center, Ram Island, the Heights, West Neck and Menantic, resulting in 19 warnings and 10 tickets.
Accidents
On Jan. 15, Rosemary Nelson McGriel of Shelter Island was traveling north on Grand Avenue when she pulled off the roadway to park in front of a parked vehicle owned by Mathew R. McCarthy of Shelter Island. She swiped the passenger side of her vehicle and damaged the front driver’s-side of Mr. MaCarthy’s vehicle — estimated at over $1,000. Mr. McCarthy was not at the scene and was notified by police.
Other reports
An officer on patrol on Jan. 12 saw a disabled vehicle in the Center; the owner said she had transmission problems and the car was towed.
A caller told police on Jan. 12 that a person was dumping brush on his Center property. He was advised that this was a civil matter and that he should obtain a survey of property lines before proceeding.
A confidential investigation into a possible sexual assault took place on Jan. 12.
A caller reported being a victim of an internet scam on Jan. 13.
On that date, a request regarding information related to a vehicle’s title, registration and insurance was declared civil in nature and the caller was advised to move forward with the assistance of her attorney,
Another complainant on Jan. 14 was told to contact an attorney regarding a civil matter.
On Jan. 15, a Hay Beach property owner surrendered firearms to police in accordance with an order of protection.
An anonymous caller reported a flooded road in West Neck on Jan. 16. The Highway Department was notified.
Police responded to a call on Jan 16 about an open burning by the Westmoreland airstrip. An officer reported there was no violation of the town code.
Also on the 16th, a verbal domestic dispute was reported in Cartwright.
Loud music was reported in Menantic on the 16th. The resident turned down the music.
On Jan. 17, a passing motorist noticed that several vehicles were parked in a no-stopping zone on Route 114, adjacent to Mashomack Preserve. An officer notified employees that the parking lot was full and that they direct traffic in order to avoid a hazardous condition. As a result, five parking tickets were issued and five vehicles remained legally parked off the roadway.
A bike with a flat tire was reported missing from a Center backyard on Jan. 17. Police determined it was taken by a family member for repair.
Also on that date a verbal domestic dispute was reported on Ram Island.
On the 18th, an eroding roadway along Shell Beach was called in. An officer noted that a barricade created a safety barrier and there was no immediate hazard requiring Highway Department response.
A caller told police that littering was an on-going problem on South Ram Island Road. Site managers were interviewed and an officer noted a clean jobsite at the location.
In other reports during the week, police participated in training on and off the Island, served an order of protection, responded to two lost and found reports, fingerprinted a person for licensing, opened two vehicles with the keys locked inside, helped two residents in their homes, filed administrative reports, and made a well-being check.
Alarms
The Shelter Island Fire Department responded to four calls on Jan. 12, 14, 15 and 18 in the Center, the Heights and Hay Beach. The first was a false carbon monoxide alarm, caused by a faulty detector; the second smoke alarm was activated by an equipment malfunction; and cooking set off the other two alarms.
A motion detector was activated in Shorewood on Jan. 12; the owner had entered the wrong passcode. On the same day, a caretaker set off an alarm at a South Ferry residence by accident. On Jan. 18, an owner forgot to turn off the alarm at a Center home.
Animal incidents
A caller reported a raccoon in a Silver Beach garage; the animal control officer (ACO) found no raccoon but “a big mess” in the garage. The owner was advised to keep the garage door closed.
An injured duck was reported in Hay Beach; the ACO searched the area without success.
An anonymous caller told police there was a dead deer on the beach at Hay Beach; the area was canvassed with negative results.
Aided cases
Shelter Island Emergency Medical Services teams transported two people to Eastern Long Island Hospital on Jan. 16 and 19.
