Police

DA: Accused burglar caught with drugs has 3 prior felony convictions

Robert Sullivan is led into Southold Town Thursday afternoon. (Credit: Paul Squire)
Robert Sullivan is led into Southold Town court for his arraignment Thursday afternoon. (Credit: Paul Squire)

A Cutchogue man who allegedly caught with drugs and hypodermic needles after stealing a book and tape recorder from a Cutchogue residence has three prior felony convictions, according to a Suffolk County prosecutor.

Robert Sullivan, 54, was arraigned in Southold Town Justice Court Thursday onfelony burglary and misdemeanor drugs and hypodermic needles possession charges.

He pleaded not guilty before Justice Rudolph Bruer and was held without bail due to his prior convictions.

Assistant district attorney Maggie Bopp would not comment to a reporter on Mr. Sullivan’s previous criminal history.

Police said a man called 911 at 1:46 p.m. from his apartment in the complex at 8305 Cox Lane to report 54-year-old Robert Sullivan had entered the apartment.

Southold Det. Sgt. John Sinning said Mr. Sullivan took a book and a tape recorder before leaving the house.

Mr. Sullivan then returned to the residence, and began “banging on the door to be let back in,” according to a police statement. Cops said they found Mr. Sullivan in his vehicle parked near his own residence in the same housing complex. Police smelled marijuana coming from Mr. Sullivan’s home and he agreed to let them search it, according to the police statement.

Inside they found hypodermic needles, steroids, marijuana and “a number of assorted prescription pills,” police said.

The incident took place in the same apartment complex where the landlord is expected to face six counts of violating town code, according to the town attorney’s office. Town officials have claimed people are living there illegally.

Mr. Sullivan had previously been charged with threatening a police officer with a barbecue fork in an April incident at the same housing complex, as well as an arrest for allegedly driving while impaired by drugs, according to previous news reports.

In court Thursday morning, Mr. Sullivan told Justice Bruer that he was living in the complex through disability payments after suffering a stroke.

Two orders of protection were signed, ordering Mr. Sullivan to keep away from the man who alerted police as well as a woman living in the residence.

He is due back in court next Tuesday.

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