Blotter: Puggle rescued from abusive Mattituck youth

A puggle, a fashionable mix between a pug and beagle, was removed from a Mattituck residence after two witnesses claimed they saw a youth throwing the dog up in the air then dunking it under water on the afternoon of June 26, according to Southold Town police.

Officers were called to the scene after receiving an anonymous report of a possible dog drowning. They found one of the witnesses sitting on their front steps holding the dog, which seemed to be having a hard time breathing, police said. A youth later admitted to throwing the animal in the air about 10 or 15 times, but said she’d been swimming with the dog, not dunking it under water, according to a report.

The dog was taken to Mattituck-Laurel Veterinary Hospital, where it will remain until further instruction from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The youth’s family told police the child suffers from numerous psychological conditions and takes numerous medications, according to police.

• A Farmingdale man was arrested Tuesday night for aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and other traffic violations, Southold Town Police said. Craig A. Costello, 44, was observed driving his Dodge Dakota on Route 25 and making a right into a Greenport parking lot without signaling or wearing his seatbelt, police said. Mr. Costello’s license was allegedly found to be suspended, resulting in his arrest, police said.

• Two 23-year-olds were arrested in front of a Southold bank early Monday morning, July 2, and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana, according to reports.

Police said when they stopped driver Kristopher Eide of Mastic Beach for a traffic infraction on Route 25, he dropped his license out the window. When Mr. Eide bent over to retrieve it, a packet of heroin allegedly fell out of his pocket. Police said his passenger, Christine M. Walton of Center Moriches, was found to be in possession of marijuana. The two were taken to headquarters for processing, police said. Ms. Walton was held for an appearance ticket and Mr. Eide was held for arraignment, police said.

• Three people were arrested within a 10-hour period during two separate traffic stops in Southold Town last weekend, police said.

In the first case, police pulled over a 48-year-old Cutchogue man Friday evening, June 29, and arrested him and a female passenger on cocaine charges, police said.

Hector Jimenez was stopped about 6:10 p.m. on Route 25 in Cutchogue for a traffic violation, after which officers found cocaine in the car, police said.

He and passenger Lisa Mandracchia, 46, of New Suffolk — who had been arrested in April for driving under the influence of drugs — were each charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of controlled substance charges and released on $250 bail, police said.

Early Saturday, June 30, police arrested 33-year-old William Peralta of Mattituck on a DWI charge and other traffic violations. After his car was pulled over about 3:45 p.m. for swerving along Peconic Bay Boulevard in Mattituck, he reportedly was found to be intoxicated and driving without a license, police said.

He was held overnight.

• A Southold woman with a prior DWI conviction was arrested for driving drunk along County Road 48 in Cutchogue Saturday night, June 30, police said. Anna Hunter, 53, was stopped for a traffic violation and was found to be intoxicated, police said. Her vehicle was seized and towed to headquarters due to the prior DWI conviction, police said.

• A bicycle was returned to a Southold teen last week that was allegedly stolen from Jockey Creek Bridge earlier in the month, according to Southold Town police. The victim said he saw his bicycle, a red Mongoose mountain bike, chained up on Jockey Creek Lane and confronted a Southold youth about the theft, police said. The youth said he thought the bicycle had been abandoned, according to police.

• A marble top table was reported stolen in Orient 5 p.m. Sunday, July 1, police said. The table was taken from an open breezeway of a residence scheduled for demolition.

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.