Cops: Flanders man fired off shot during fight in Polish Town
A brawl between two men in Polish Town ended with one man pulling out a .32 caliber handgun and firing at the other, with the alleged shooter getting arrested a short time later at his Flanders house, Riverhead Town police said.
Police were responding to a menacing call about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at 500 Lincoln Avenue when they came upon the aftermath of a “physical altercation” between William Kowalksi, 27, of Riverhead and 50-year-old Joseph Smith of Flanders, authorities said.
Mr. Smith had fled the scene by the time police arrived.
Mr. Kowalksi told the officers he and the other man were fighting when Mr. Smith pulled out the handgun and fired a shot off, police said.
No one was struck by the bullet.
Riverhead police then contacted Southampton Town police, who located and arrested Mr. Smith shortly thereafter at his Oak Avenue home in Flanders.
Mr. Smith was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession and was being held on $75,000 bail.
