Police

3 Riverhead youths facing robbery charges

GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | Southampton police divers search the Peconic River, but were unable to find the possible weapon used in a recent armed robbery.

Southampton police have identified three Riverhead youths, including two teenagers, arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery at a Valero gas station in Riverside on Halloween night.

Larry Moore, 17, Erick Darden, 19, and Arnell Nash, 21, were apprehended by Southampton cops Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The youths were each charged with first-degree robbery, a class B felony, police said.

The arrests came after an investigation conducted by Southampton, Riverhead, Suffolk County and Southold police departments, as well as the county sheriff’s office and East End Drug Task Force members, authorities said.

The three suspects also may have been involved in a series of armed robberies across the North Fork over the past month that are still under investigation, police said.

Southampton police said they would provide updates on those additional robberies as the investigation continues.

GIANNA VOLPE PHOTO | Southampton police divers search the Peconic River Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday morning, divers with Southampton police searched the Peconic River for a handgun they believe was used in the crimes.

Members of the Southampton Town Dive Recovery Unit started scouring the river behind McDonald’s in Riverside about 10:30 a.m. after receiving information that the handgun used in the robberies was dumped in the water, Southampton police Sgt. Lewis Scott said from the scene.

The gun was not recovered by police, according to a statement issued later Wednesday. Police will conduct future searches to find the possible weapon and proceeds from the robbery.

Riverhead police Lt. Rick Boden said the department was aware of the arrests made by Southampton police and was working on connecting the men with the armed robberies within its jurisdiction, one at a Halloween store on Oct. 20 and the second at Barth’s Pharmacy on Nov. 7.

There was a fourth holdup last Monday at a Mattituck gas station.

Anyone with information on the robberies is encouraged to contact Southampton Town Police Detectives at 631-728-2230.

[email protected]

Additional reporting by Gianna Volpe

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