Police Investigating Hit-And-Run In Dix Hills

Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives are investigating a hit-and-run crash that critically injured a pedestrian early this morning.

Amilar Velasquez was walking on the northbound shoulder in front of 32 West Hills Road when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene at 12:13 a.m.

Velasquez, 37, of Huntington Station, was transported to Huntington Hospital in critical condition. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Police Ask Public To Help Identify Human Remains Found In North Babylon

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify the remains of a man that were found in North Babylon last year.

A 911 caller reported finding skeletal remains in a wooded area of Southards Pond Park, south of Sunrise Highway, on February 15, 2023 at approximately 1 p.m. Following an investigation by Homicide Squad detectives, the cause of death was determined to be non-criminal in nature.

The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office believes the remains to be of a Black male between the ages of 25 and 40. He is between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 5 inches tall, and had been dead for approximately two years prior to being found. He was wearing a black jacket with “Nike Running” on the sleeve, black pants with black and white basketball sneakers and a gray running hat. It is under investigation whether a backpack located near the body belonged to the man.

Attached is a sketch of what the man is believed to have looked like. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the identity of this man to call Homicide Squad detectives at 631-852-6392. All calls will be kept confidential.

Teenager Arrested For Driving Stolen Vehicle Involved In MV Crash With Fatality

Suffolk County Police last night arrested a teenage male for driving a stolen vehicle while impaired by drugs after he attempted to flee the scene of a fatal motor vehicle crash in Centereach.

A 16-year-old male was driving a stolen 2008 Land Rover LR2 eastbound on Middle Country Road when he crashed the vehicle into the rear of a sedan being driven by a 73-year-old woman at approximately 9:10 p.m.

The woman was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. A 50-year-old male passenger in the sedan was transported to the same hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The teen, who was not injured, attempted to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended by an off-duty Suffolk County Police officer. Officers from the Selective Alcohol Fatality Enforcement Team (SAFE-T) charged the teen, who is not being identified due to his age, with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs 1st Degree. Major Case Unit detectives charged him with Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3rd Degree. He is being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and will be arraigned at the Youth Part of First District Court in Central Islip on May 5.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Update on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 10:23AM by .

Marion Napolitano, 73, who is undomiciled, has been identified as the woman killed in a motor vehicle crash on Middle Country Road in Centereach on May 4.

Man Arrested For Selling Fake Car Insurance

Suffolk County Police today arrested a man for selling fake car insurance to a Shirley man last month. A Shirley man contacted police on March 29 after he gave money to pay for an auto insurance policy to Joseph Cawley, an independent insurance broker, on March 16 but did not receive any identificationcards for the policy. In total, the victim paid more than $1,550 for the policy, which did not exist.

Following an investigation, Seventh Squad detectives arrested Cawley at his home, in Ridge, at 1:38 p.m. today.

Cawley, 37, was charged with Grand Larceny 4th Degree. He was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court on a later date.

Anyone who believes they are a victim of the scam is asked to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-

8752. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

SCPD Investigating Death Of Man In Police Custody

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives and the Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating the circumstances surrounding a man who died in police custody in Bay Shore this morning.

Joseph Leonard was driving a 2016 Jeep Wrangler when his vehicle rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a light on Pine Aire Drive and 5th Avenue in Brentwood at approximately 5:30 p.m. on April 25. When police arrived, they found Leonard unconscious behind the wheel. Officers removed him from the vehicle, rendered first aid and administered Narcan. He was arrested and transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore by Brentwood Legion Ambulance. Leonard was treated and released into police custody.

Leonard was charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree. Leonard was issued summons for driving with a revoked license. He was held overnight at the Third Precinct in Bay Shore.

Preparing to transport Leonard to First District Court at approximately 9 a.m., police observed he was not breathing in his holding cell. First Aid was administered. Leonard, 58, of West Islip, was pronounced dead at the precinct.

Leonard’s cause of death will be determined during an autopsy by personnel from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. The New York State Attorney General’s Office was notified and responded to the scene. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision were also notified.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Arrest Made In Computer Scam That Defrauded A Woman Out Of Thousands Of Dollars

Vikram KumarSuffolk County Police today arrested a man in connection with a computer scam that bilked thousands of dollars from a North Amityville woman.

A 65-year-old woman received an alert on her computer informing her to contact Apple Support. The woman called the number, and she was informed her bank accounts had been hacked and there was a $12,000 charge. To halt the reported withdrawal and fix the purported hack, she agreed to meet a courier at her home and provided a $17,000 payment on April 23.

The victim received a call purportedly from Apple Support on April 26 seeking an additional $10,000. The woman then called police. Financial Crimes Unit detectives responded to the woman’s house and intercepted the second exchange with a courier. The courier, Vikram Kumar, was not the same courier as the one on April 23.

Detectives charged Kumar, 26, of 242-20 Bellerose, Queens, with Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd Degree. He is scheduled to appear at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

Detectives believe this is a coordinated scam involving multiple people. Anyone who believes they are a victim of the scam is asked to contact Financial Crimes at 631-852-6821.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Man Arrested After Striking Police Officer With MV

Suffolk County Police have arrested a man after he struck a police officer with his vehicle in Bohemia and exchanged gunfire with police during a pursuit last night.

During a confidential investigation in Bohemia, detectives attempted to arrest Brandon Scanlon. The suspect fled in a minivan striking a police officer and knocking him to the ground. Officers pursued the suspect from Bohemia, through Brentwood to Bay Shore. Exchanges of gunfire occurred during the pursuit.

The minivan crashed into a tree on North Sunrise Highway Service Road, east of Robert Moses Causeway, at approximately 7:20 p.m. Scanlon, sustained a gunshot wound, that occurred while exchanging gunfire with the officers during the pursuit. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Five officers were also transported to the hospital for evaluation.

A ghost gun was recovered from the vehicle.

Scanlon, 33, of Middle Island, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree and Assault 2nd Degree. He will be arraigned at a later date.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Police Looking For Three People Alleged To Have Assaulted Walmart Employee

Wanted for Commack Assault

Release Date: April 1, 2024

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate three people who assaulted an employee at a Commack store.

An employee of Walmart, located at 85 Crooked Hill Road, confronted three people, two women and a man, regarding their handling of merchandise on March 27 at approximately 6:20 p.m. During the encounter, the three people attacked the employee, punching him multiple times. The victim was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of minor injuries.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

SCPD Investigating Shooting During A Residential Burglary In Sayville

Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are investigating a residential burglary during which a man was shot in Sayville last night.

Two masked men, one with a handgun, entered through an unlocked side door of the residence located on Greenbrier Lane at approximately 11:40 p.m. A small gathering was taking place inside, and the men stole cell phones, jewelry, and cash from the people in attendance. As the men were exiting through the side door, they encountered a man who was about to enter the house. The burglar with the handgun shot him twice. The men fled the scene.

The gunshot victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. There were no other injuries. Detectives believe the house was targeted. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8542 or Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Woman Charged With DWI After Hitting A Police Vehicle Parked On 25A/Oakside Rd.

Suffolk County Police today arrested a Smithtown woman for driving while intoxicated after a motor vehicle crash involving a police vehicle in Smithtown early this morning.

A Fourth Precinct Police officer was in his police vehicle parked on Route 25 A at Oakside Road when a 2020 Nissan Rogue driven by Katelyn Lynch struck the rear of his police vehicle at approximately 12:30 a.m.

The officer was in his police vehicle waiting for a tow truck to respond following an unrelated crash on Route 25 that also involved a driver who was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.

The officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Lynch, 25, of Smithtown, was arrested for DWI and transported to the hospital where she was treated and released. Lynch will be held overnight at the Fourth Precinct and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on March 24.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.