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Southold police blotter: Wanted man caught joyriding

A Pennsylvania man who took another man’s car “for a ride” was arrested last week after Southold Town police discovered he was wanted in Riverhead Town, according to a police report.

Southold police said a resident of Yennecott Drive called authorities about 2:30 p.m. to report his truck had been taken without his permission by Carlton Strong of West Milton, Pa.

Police tracked down Mr. Strong, who said he was “taking the truck for a ride,” according to the report. Though the truck’s owner declined to press charges, a check of Mr. Strong’s license revealed he was wanted for failure to appear in court following a prior DWI arrest in Riverhead, according to the police report.

Mr. Strong, 65, was charged with driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed driving and a lane violation after he was pulled over in the Riverhead Plaza parking lot off Route 58 just after midnight June 4, according to previous news reports.

A warrant was issued for his arrest sometime later and he was taken into custody in Riverhead with a court date set for this week.

• A Ridge woman was arrested for misdemeanor DWI in Mattituck Sept. 13, after being stopped for speeding on Route 48, Southold Town police said.

Kathleen Speizio, 58, failed a roadside sobriety test, police said. Her breath smelled of alcohol and her eyes were red and glassy after she was stopped shortly before 6 p.m., according to a press release.

After she was arrested, police found Valium and Soma pills that were not in a proper prescription bottle, police said.

Ms. Speizio also faces a charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said, and a traffic violation.

• A Southold man was arrested Monday and charged with drunken driving on Route 25, Southold Town police said.

Jon Versheck, 41, was driving in Cutchogue around 6:45 p.m. when he was observed failing to maintain his lane of travel, police said.

Police pulled him over and found he was intoxicated, officials said.

Mr. Versheck was charged with aggravated DWI and held for an arraignment, police said.

• Someone stole $1,000 in cash from the safe of a Mattituck veterinary office last week, according to a Southold police report.

A bookkeeper for Mattituck-Laurel Veterinary Hospital reported the missing money last Tuesday, police said. Detectives were called to the scene and an investigation into the reported theft is ongoing.

• Gold and diamond earrings worth about $250 were taken from a Peconic woman’s bedroom while a nursing assistant was caring for the victim, according to a police report filed last week.

The victim told police someone took the earrings from a shot glass where they were kept in her bedroom sometime overnight last Saturday, Sept. 10. Police said the woman uses a nursing agency and that she believes one of the nurses who care for her may have taken the jewelry.

Police and the agency are still investigating the incident and no arrests have been made.

• Items were stolen from two unlocked vehicles on Indian Neck Lane in Peconic last week, according to police reports.

A $300 Sony camera was stolen from an unlocked 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked at a residence last Tuesday, Sept. 13, according to a police report. The victim asked for extra patrols in the vicinity of his home.

A day later, another resident reported that his unlocked vehicle had been “rummaged through” Tuesday night and items were missing. No arrests were reported.

Those who are named in police reports have not been convicted of any crime or violation. The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.