Riverhead blotter: Stolen car dies on thief

A 39-year-old Coram man was arrested on felony charges after the stolen Mercedes-Benz he was driving in died on Route 25A in Wading River last Wednesday, police said.

Police stopped to help a disabled vehicle, which had been driven by Charmaine Williams, about 5:30 p.m., according to a report. While searching the vehicle’s information to schedule a tow, authorities found the vehicle had previously been reported stolen out of New York City, police said.

Mr. Williams was arrested and held for morning arraignment and the owner of the vehicle was notified, police said.

• A 20-year-old unlicensed Riverhead man was arrested for aggravated driving while intoxicated after getting into an accident with another vehicle Sunday morning, according to a report.

Police responding to the scene of an accident on Route 58 found one of the drivers, Emmanuel Alavaz Torres, unsteady on his feet and smelling of alcohol about 9:45 a.m., authorities said.

At the time of his arrest, Mr. Alavaz Torres was found to be hiding the vehicle’s license plate inside of his jacket, according to a report. He was held for arraignment, police said.

• A 40-year-old Riverhead man was charged with aggravated DWI after an off-duty police officer notified authorities of an erratic driver on Main Road last Tuesday, police said.

Police located and arrested Luis Muralles on Roanoke Avenue about 7:10 p.m., according to a report.

• A 21-year-old Peconic man was arrested for drunken driving early Saturday, police said.

Rudy De Jesus Perez was stopped on Roanoke Avenue after making an improper turn about 2:50 a.m., according to a report.

Mr. Perez was arrested and held for arraignment, police said.

• About $5,000 worth of fine jewelry was reported stolen from a Wading River home on Friday, police said.

A 16th Street resident found various jewelry items that had been kept in a bedroom dresser were missing early Friday, according to a report. The items, which include a gold diamond ring, gold bracelet and a gold watch, are valued at $5,000, police said. Detectives are investigating.

• A Baiting Hollow resident reports at least $1,600 worth of items, including flat-screen televisions and brake rotors, were stolen from a home last week, police said.

Sometime between last Sunday and last Wednesday, an unknown person entered a Beach Hill Drive home through a basement side window and removed three large televisions, and four new brake rotors still in their boxes, together estimated at $1,600, according to a report. Police said a computer was also reported stolen.

A number of other items, including high-end car rims and a framed hockey jersey were left in a pile in the basement, police said. Detectives are investigating.

• Six Baiting Hollow residents reported incidents of stolen copper piping in the past week, according to reports.

Sometime between last Sunday and Monday over 100 feet of copper wire was removed from underneath a Beach Hill Drive cottage, police said. The resident reported the wire stolen about 9:50 a.m. last Monday, according to a report. It is valued at $400, authorities said.

Police also received reports of stolen copper piping from another Beach Hill Drive home and a Woodcliff Trail home last Wednesday, from residents of both Neptune Place and Surf Way on Sunday, and from another Beach Hill Drive resident on Monday, according to reports. Police are conducting extra patrols in the area, authorities said.

• A 20-year-old homeless man was arrested for trespassing after he was found sleeping in a school bus that was parked in a bus garage early Tuesday, police said.

Monwell Wright was arrested at the Riverhead Bus Garage about 3:50 a.m, authorities said.
Mr. Wright was charged with criminal trespassing and held for morning arraignment, according to a report.

• Over $13,500 worth of tools and equipment was reported stolen from a Burman Boulevard business on Tuesday, police said.

Sometime between Oct. 8., and Oct 14., a number of lawnmowers, portable heaters, compressors along with an assortment of other tools were stolen from a secured holding container at the Calverton business, according to a report.

Tire pattens from an unknown vehicle could be seen leading up the the doors of the container, authorities said. Detectives are investigating.

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.