Blotter: Flock camera struck by car, maids misdirected

Southold Town police responded to 83 incidents between July 27 and Aug. 3, including the following:

• Police received a report July 27 of a seaplane landing in the area of Pipes Cove, arriving in time to see the blue and white craft taking off. An FAA registration inquiry revealed that the plane was registered to Acadian Aircraft Leasing in Rangeley, Maine. Officers then spoke to the company owner, who said they regularly operate charter flights to Sunset Beach on Shelter Island. He was advised that future flights must land in and take off from state waters to avoid town code violations. The owner said he would consult a map to determine applicable boundaries. No enforcement action was taken.
• On July 27, a man called police to report a vehicle striking a Flock camera outside his residence in the vicinity of Main Street and Knapp Place in Greenport. Responding officers saw tire tracks leading to the camera and damage sufficient to render it inoperable. Police found no security cameras in the surrounding are and detectives were called to photograph the scene. Cones were placed to ensure safety.
• Police were called to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital July 28 about a man displaying violent behavior toward nursing staff. The man reportedly became agitated upon being told he would be transferred to another facility. He did not want to be transported or receive medication. Police stood by until he eventually calmed down after it was agreed he would instead be moved to another floor within ELIH.
• A 14-year-old Greenport boy contacted police July 28, saying he was walking on the sidewalk at his apartment complex when a man walking the opposite direction told him to “get out of the way” and asked if he wanted to get into a fight. To avoid an altercation, the boy said he returned to his apartment. Responding police spoke with the man, 56, who gave a conflicting account, stating that juveniles were cursing at him and that the boy had deliberately bumped into him on the sidewalk. Parties were advised to avoid each other.
• A Mattituck resident called police to report a seeing a strobe light go on and off for approximately one hour across James Creek. Investigating officers determined that the light was emanating from a geese deterrent lawn ornament.
• A drifting sailboat headed toward several large vessels moored outside Orient Harbor prompted an East Marion woman to call police July 29. Responding officers towed the boat to Hallocks Bay and secured it to a green channel marker. Despite seeing no registration numbers or hull ID number, officers were able to identify and contact the owner, an East Marion man who then took control of the boat and planned to sail it back to its mooring off his residence.
• An investigation is underway following a July 29 call to police reporting unknown subjects trying to gain entry to a unit at 315 Commerce Drive in Cutchogue by prying a screen off a window. A vehicle was seen in the parking lot and video surveillance showed several individuals attempted to gain access to several other vehicles in the lot.
• An anonymous 911 report of a fight involving knives brought police to 30 Front St., Greenport, at 10:30 p.m. July 29. Four adults and a juvenile told officers that they were standing in the parking lot when a white Mercedes SUV drove past and heated words were exchanged between them and its occupants. The car drove around the lot a few times then left. Police located a car matching the description and initiated a traffic stop. Its three occupants, all East Marion residents, claimed no knowledge of or involvement in the incident or the 911 call. Further investigation revealed, however, that one of the three occupants of the Mercedes had placed the anonymous call. No evidence was found to substantiate a crime, so all parties were advised to cease contact with one another.
• A Cutchogue resident called police July 30 when he found a note inside his second home after seeing three unknown women enter his residence earlier in the day on surveillance footage. The note said: “My name is … . I am cleaning your house. Please call my number at … . Thank you.” He told police he had not ordered cleaning services and was uncomfortable calling the number, requesting police assistance to communicate. Police called and spoke with the woman who left the note, who said she and her co-workers had been given a wrong address by their employer, but didn’t learn that until they’d finished the job. She also noted that the house was unlocked when they arrived, which the owner confirmed. No further action was taken.
• A Southold woman reported attempted identity theft July 31, saying she’d been called by “Mike Tanner” from “Apple” saying her phone had been hacked and providing his employee number and a case number. The woman gave “Mike” the last four digits of her Social Security number and told him how much she had in her IRA. “Mike” then transferred her to “Officer Watson” from the “FTC,” who said he was going to transfer $6,000 from her IRA. Realizing this was a scam, she ended the call and contacted her bank, which said there had been no suspicious activity and put a hold on her account. Police provided the woman with identity theft paperwork and advised her to report the incident to her credit card companies.
• A man called police July 31 to report an unoccupied vehicle running in the parking lot at Cross Sound Ferry, saying he believed the owner may have boarded the ferry. Responding officers found the vehicle running and unlocked and contacted the owner, who was on the ferry and said it was accidental. He requested that police turn off the vehicle and secure it at the location, which they did.

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.