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Shelter Island Police Department headquarters.
Update: Since this Reporter story was published this morning, Supervisor Gary Gerth notified the Reporter this afternoon that Emory Breiner had resigned his post as Planning Board chairman this week. “He had been acting out of his authority,” Mr. Gerth said.
Below is the original story. (more…)
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Illegally cut trees off Menhaden Lane.
Shelter Island and Suffolk County police still want to know who is responsible for cutting down an estimated acre of trees valued at $66,000 off Menhaden Lane in January 2018.
Rumors abounded about who might be responsible for the damage to acres of trees, but Town Attorney Bob DeStefano Jr. said last December that the rumors were unfounded.
Monday morning, Shelter Island Police officers were at North and South ferries handing out flyers to drivers asking anyone with information to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers with any tips they may have.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in the destruction that police from both departments have categorized as criminal mischief.
In January 2018, it was reported that cedar, cherry, locust and other trees had been sliced in half with wood lying on the ground. Resident Jean Lawless, who brought the matter to the Reporter and town officials, found the site while walking her dog.
“It’s criminal,” said Tim Purtell, chairman of the town’s Green Options Advisory Committee.
Mr. Purtell, a Reporter nature columnist, is an activist with environmental groups .
“Those trees belong to all of us,” he said.
The flyers indicated that the destruction occurred between January 7 and January 8 of 2018.
Because the land on which the trees were destroyed is owned by Suffolk County, local police turned the case over to a division of Suffolk County Police who handle environmental crimes.
While town officials have asked about progress in the case from time to time, there have been no breaks in the case.
Anyone with information may submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS; texting SCPD and your message to CRIMES (274637); or emailing www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
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Arrest
On October 15, Walter Segundo Barrera Rea, 33, of East Hampton was stopped for a cellphone violation and upon further investigation, was determined to be operating with a suspended license. The defendant was arrested, processed, released on $100 station house bail and directed to appear in Justice Court at a later date. (more…)
50 YEARS AGO IN HISTORY
American actress Debra Messing, known for her role on Will & Grace on NBC Television, was born in Brooklyn.
Frank Sinatra divorced third wife Mia Farrow after two years of marriage.
Movie tickets were selling for $1.50 and gasoline averaged 34 cents a gallon.
Warsaw Pact Soviet led troops invaded Czechoslovakia.
And on Shelter Island . . .
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Three bartenders at local restaurants were arrested Saturday evening for serving alcoholic beverages to underage customers. The three employees were each charged with first degree “unlawfully dealing with a child.” (more…)