Police

Cops: Greenport man painted over Claudio’s parking lot

A Greenport man was arrested Monday after being caught on surveillance video pouring paint over parking spaces at Claudio’s restaurant on Main Street in Greenport, according to a Southold police press release.

Robert Lehmann, 65, was arrested around 3:15 a.m. at his home and charged with criminal tampering, police said. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday afternoon in Southold Town Justice Court and held on $150 bail.

An officer on patrol Sunday morning noticed that the logo painted on the restaurant’s parking lot had been painted over. He contacted owner Bill Claudio and they reviewed surveillance footage, which showed Mr. Lehmann using cardboard to smear paint over the logo, officials said.

On June 25, Mr. Claudio had contacted police to report that someone had removed three “Claudio’s parking only” signs and painted over the word “Claudio” in pavement markings reading “Claudio parking only,” according to a police report. In addition, an officer noticed last Thursday that the parking lot had been painted again, the report states.

Mr. Claudio declined comment Tuesday.

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Additional reporting by Rachel Siford

Editor’s note: This story was updated 5 p.m. Monday.

Top photo: The Claudio’s restaurant parking lot Monday morning. (Credit: Rachel Siford)

The Claudio’s restaurant parking lot Tuesday. A new sign was recently posted. (Credit: Rachel Siford)