Blotter: Gutter sniping on Fishers Island

Southold Town police responded to 51 incidents during the week from Oct. 5 to Oct. 12, including the following:

• Police were called to Third and South streets in Greenport Oct. 6, where a 24-year old male said he had approached 37-year-old man, who became agitated for an unknown reason, then pulled a pistol from his waistband and threatened to kill him. After returning home, he saw the same man, still apparently agitated, walking toward his residence with his shirt off. Officers located the shirtless man and found he did not have a pistol, which was confirmed by a witness. He told police the complainant had made comments about his family and said “he fought a grown man last night and would not be afraid to fight” the complainant. All parties declined to press any charges.
• Police responded Oct. 7 to a dispute between neighbors on Fishers Island. A woman told police her she had seen her neighbor throw a piece of gutter onto her property and wanted to report it due to an ongoing problem between them. The neighbor said he discovered the item while mowing his lawn and claimed it came from the woman’s house. He did not want it on his property so he threw it back. The woman said it was not from her house. The parties were advised to cease communication with each other.
• An officer on a patrol Oct. 8 noticed that a Flock camera located at Main Street and Knapp Place in Greenport had been turned to face the wrong direction, although the equipment appeared not to have been damaged.
• On Oct. 10, an anonymous caller reported a sailboat in distress in Long Island Sound off Aquaview Avenue in East Marion. The responding officer flew a police drone to the boat but could not determine if there was anyone aboard or in distress and Marine 1 was contacted. While Marine 1 was on site, Tow Boat USA also responded, having been called by the sailboat’s owner to retrieve a smaller dinghy that had broken free from it and drifted away. Police were unable to make contact with the sailboat’s owner.
• A passing motorist contacted police Oct. 9 about 9:20 p.m. to report the smell of burning garbage in the vicinity of 100 Third St. in Greenport. Officers responded and determined that the odor was emanating from an LIRR maintenance train idling at the site.
• A Southold motorist driving a 2005 Hyundai was pulled over Oct. 10 after officers on patrol received an LPR hit on his vehicle, and was subsequently issued six traffic tickets. During the officers’ investigation, the front and rear license plates of his vehicle were found not to match — and neither plate, nor the registration sticker on the windshield, linked to the vehicle he was driving. The driver confirmed that he knew the plates were switched. In addition, the inspection sticker on the vehicle did not come back to any of the listed NYS registrations. Officers requested a tow for the vehicle, as there was also no proof of valid insurance. The driver was informed of the process to retrieve his vehicle and advised that he must report to Southold Town Justice Court on the infractions. The officers then gave him a lift to work without incident.
• A unknown woman called police Oct. 10 to report a Tesla Cybertruck driving on the beach at Duck Pond Point in Cutchogue. Responding officers found tire tracks in the sand but no vehicle on the beach. A witness standing nearby confirmed the woman’s report, and her vehicle description, but said it had turned around and left. He could not provide a license number.
• Police responded to Hallocks Lane in Mattituck Oct. 10 on reports of gunshots fired in the Harbes field. Upon arrival, they observed a vehicle in the field and spoke with a Glen Cove man who said he had a permit to hunt on the property and showed appropriate paperwork. He said he had attempted to shoot a deer that took off and got away. The man was advised to inform STPD of any nuisance permit hunting in the future.

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.