News Briefs From Across Huntington (Feb. 1, 2018)

Driver Killed After Car Crashes Into Tractor Trailer,
Cops Say

The span of Commack Road, just north of Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, where a man was killed early Monday morning when his car struck a tractor trailer. Photo/Google Maps

An unidentified man was killed early Monday morning when the car he was driving struck a tractor trailer in Commack, Suffolk Police said.

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives, who are investigating the crash, said the man was driving a 2002 Subaru Impreza northbound on Commack Road, 300 feet north of Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, at around 3:25 a.m. At that time, the car veered into the southbound lanes and struck the rear wheels of a southbound tractor trailer, according to police.

The driver of the Subaru was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Suffolk police were withholding the man’s name pending notification of next of kin, as of deadline Tuesday.

The man driving the tractor trailer was not injured, police said.

The Subaru was impounded for a safety check.

Cops Release Video Of Shotgun-Wielding
Thugs Who Robbed Huntington Station Store

A screenshot released by police depicts two men who held up a Huntington Station business last month. Photo/SCPD

Suffolk police have released video footage of two men, one armed with a shotgun, who robbed a Huntington Station business in January.

The video, which is posted at YouTube.com/scpdtv, shows the two men enter Metro PCS at 1669 New York Ave. at around 8 p.m. on Jan. 8. One of the men displays a shotgun, and the pair demanded money. The cashier complied and the suspects fled on foot, police said.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting “SCPD” and a message to “CRIMES” (274637) or emailing via Tipsubmit.com.

Vape Liquid Sting Yields Four Arrests Within Huntington, Cops Say

Four employees of businesses within the Town of Huntington were arrested Saturday for selling e-liquid nicotine to minors, Suffolk police said.

Second Precinct Crime Section officers and representatives from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Tobacco Regulation Enforcement Unit conducted an investigation into the sale of e-liquid nicotine to minors at 10 area businesses in response to community complaints.

The four arrested and charged with second-degree unlawfully dealing with a child are:

• Sandipkumar Bhatiya, 42, of Ronkonkoma, an employee of Mr. Tobacco Shop II at 2031 East Jericho Turnpike, East Northport

• Joanna Oh, 25, of Malverne, an employee of Whatever Vape Shop at 675 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station

• Diville Moss, 20, of Smithtown, an employee of East Coast Psychedelics at 6124 East Jericho Turnpike, Commack

• Dean Papas, 34, of South Huntington, an employee of Huntington Village Vapes at 4 Elm St., Huntington

Each of those arrested were issued field appearance tickets and scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

The owners of the above businesses were issued a notice of violation by the Suffolk County Department of Health, police said.

Six other businesses complied during the investigation, refusing to sell e-liquid nicotine to minors. They are: Abbey Road Tobacco & Vapor at 63 Larkfield Road, East Northport; FMS Vapes at 825 Walt Whitman Road, Melville; Long Island Vape at 469A East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station; Gotham Smoke & Novelty Shop at 681 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station; Karma Vapes at 217 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station; and Liquid Lyfe Vapor Shop at 6160 E. Jericho Turnpike, Commack.

PD: Brothers Arrested For Two Armed Robberies, Burglary In One Day

Miguel Rios-Hurdle (Left) and Romeo Rios-Hurdle (Right) Photos/SCPD

Two brothers from Wheatley Heights were arrested last week in connection with two armed robberies and a burglary on Jan. 23, according to Suffolk police.

Miguel Rios-Hurdle walked into the Valero Gas Station at 355 Bay Shore Road, Deer Park at around 3:25 a.m., displayed a gun and demanded cash, police said. The teller complied with his demands and Rio-Hurdle fled.

Police said that Rios-Hurdle and his brother Romeo then broke into Milk N’ Things at 1287 Deer Park Ave., North Babylon at around 3:35 a.m., and stole cash from the closed business.

At around 4 a.m., Miguel Rios-Hurdle walked into the Mobil gas station at 380 Commack Road, Deer Park, displayed a gun and demanded cash, according to police. The teller complied with his demands and Miguel Rios-Hurdle fled, police said.

Following an investigation, police said, First Squad detectives arrested the brothers in Wheatley Heights later that day at 8:45 p.m.

Miguel Rios-Hurdle, 18, was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and third-degree burglary.

Romeo Rios-Hurdle, 16, was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree grand larceny.

Both brothers were arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Jan. 24.

Bail was set at $15,000 cash, $25,000 bond for Miguel Rios-Hurdle and was not posted. He is being represented by Central Islip-based defense attorney Ian Thomas Fitzgerald.

Bail was set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 bond for Romeo Rios-Hurdle and was not posted. He is being represented by a legal aid.

Both brothers appeared in court again on Monday, and are scheduled to appear again Feb. 5.

PD: Father Arrested For Letting Girl, 13, Drive With Boy, 3, In Back Seat

Alejandro Noriega Photo/SCPD

A Huntington Station man was arrested Saturday for allowing his 13-year-old daughter to drive his car while a 3-year-old child was in the backseat, Suffolk police said.

A Second Precinct Community Support Unit officer observed the 1995 Toyota Camry being driven erratically northbound on Oakwood Road in Huntington Station at around 6:30 p.m., police said.

The officer pulled the car over and determined that a 13-year-old girl was driving, police said.

The girl’s father, Alejandro Noriega, was in the front passenger seat; and a 3-year-old boy was in a child safety seat in the back seat of the car, police said.

Police said Noriega was babysitting the boy, who is the child of a friend.

Noriega, 45, was arrested and charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was also issued a summons for permitting unlicensed operation, police said.

The 13-year-old girl was released to her mother at the scene. The 3-year-old boy was released to his mother at the Second Precinct.

Noriega will be held overnight at the Second Precinct, and then arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday. Bail was set at $500 cash, $1,000 bond and was not posted. Noriega, who is being represented by a legal aid, was scheduled to appear in court again Wednesday.

Cops Seek Man Who Broke Into, Stole From Greenlawn Business

Photo/SCPD

Suffolk police are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate a man they said burgled a Greenlawn business late last year.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives said the man, pictured, used a brick to break the glass front door of Evolve Smoke Shop at 233A Broadway on Dec. 3, 12:48 a.m.

Police said the man stole lottery tickets and 60 cartons of cigarettes, and then fled north on Broadway.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers are offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with info on these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-220-TIPS.