Blotter: Woman tailed by local man calls cops three times

Southold Town police responded to 69 reported incidents between Aug. 17 and 24, including the following.

• A 61-year-old Greenport man called police Aug. 17 to document a disagreement with a 29-year-old Riverhead resident, who he claimed had “smacked” him in the face. He also told police he had “smacked” the man back, at which point they went their separate ways. The complainant did not appear injured, and stated they had both been drinking alcohol and that this is a common occurrence, with which the responding officer was familiar. The Riverhead man could not be located.
• An anonymous caller contacted police Aug. 17 to report that a Greenport man had sent out a video in which he said h was going to abuse his dogs. Responding officers spoke with the man, who said he would never harm his animals and the video was a joke. Police viewed the video, which they found indicated no intention to inflict injury, and found both dogs to be playful and healthy.
• An officer on patrol Aug. 17 observed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane on Pine Neck Road in Southold, and conducted a traffic stop. After identifying the driver and passenger, the office found the driver, Jordan Hernandez Cortes of East Marion, 23, to be intoxicated and placed him under arrest. The vehicle was secured, the passenger arranged for a ride home and Mr. Hernandez Cortes was transported to headquarters, processed and held for arraignment.
• A 50-year-old Cutchogue woman called police Aug. 18 about 12:48 p.m. to report a recurring problem with a local man who repeatedly drives slowly past her or stops directly in front of her while she is walking, running or biking. She stated that this behavior has been ongoing since Aug. 7, and has escalated in frequency, sometimes occurring multiple times in a single day, She said they have never spoken and she now feels uncomfortable leaving her house and her children. Due to prior incidents involving the same man, the responding officer notified detectives. The woman contacted police again Aug. 19 about 2:20 p.m. to report that, while pulling her kayak out of the water, she saw the man drive by and come to a complete stop behind the tree line. When she took out her cellphone to take a picture, he sped away in a black Toyota Tacoma. She told officers she feels she is being followed and believes the man’s aim is to cause alarm or annoyance, as he appears daily at locations she frequents. Officers advised her to call any time she believes she is legitimately being watched or followed, to facilitate the investigation, but cautioned that no criminal offense yet can be documented, given that here has been no physical or verbal interaction between them. Detectives were again notified. The woman filed a third similar report about 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 20. Officers responded again to document the incident and updated detectives.
• A Fishers Island resident called police Aug. 20 about a vehicle fire on the front lawn of a residence there. The owner said the car was running abnormally when he first started it that morning. He then heard a loud bang from the undercarriage, which began smoking excessively and then burst into flames. The owner’s left leg was outside the vehicle at the time and sustained a burn injury. Upon officers’ arrival, the island fired department had extinguished the fire, but the vehicle’s owner stated that it was running abnormally when he started it that morning. The fire department investigation determined no foul play was involved and the fire was mechanical in nature. The owner was transported for medical evaluation.
• Police headquarters received a call from Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital Aug. 18. An intoxicated man who had been discharged earlier in the day and had given staff there “a hard time’ about leaving was becoming increasingly aggressive. Responding officers were able to talk with the man and facilitate a ride home for him without further disturbance.
• An Aug. 20 request for a wellness check on an intoxicated man sitting along the shoulder of Route 25 in Southold ended with the arrest of Stephen Jerome of Southold, 37, on an outstanding arrest warrant out of Southold Justice Court dated Aug. 17. Mr. Jerome was transported to police headquarters for processing.
• Police received a felony vehicle alert through Axon LPR Aug. 21 for a vehicle traveling west on Main Road near McCall Vineyards. Officers located the vehicle, owned and driven by a Mattituck resident, in the area of Main Road and Bay Avenue in Mattituck. NYPD 113 Detective Squad confirmed the alert, saying they wished the vehicle and its contents to be seized. The vehicle was towed to STPD impound and secured.
• Police were called Aug. 22 about a gray Honda sedan failing to maintain its lane on Middle Road near Wickham Avenue and subsequently located the car heading south on Alvah’s Lane, where it made a U-turn. A traffic stop was initiated and the officer identified the driver as Crisanto Coc Caal of Cutchogue, 23. In the center cup holders, the officer observed two open beers that were half-full and cold to the touch. Mr. Coc Caal admitted to drinking six beers, was determined to be intoxicated and was arrested, taken to headquarters for processing and held for arraignment. A passenger in the vehicle called for a ride home.

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.