Cops: Riverhead man retrieved gun during altercation

A Riverhead man threatened two people with a handgun during an early morning altercation at a home on Union Avenue after striking one person in the head with a beer bottle, Riverhead Town police said.

Police arrested Edgar Bautista, 22, on multiple charges, including criminal possession of a firearm and assault.

Police responded to the scene just before 2 a.m. Tuesday, when one person involved told police that there was a fight between two people. Mr. Bautista allegedly struck one person in the face with a beer bottle, then said he was going to get a gun and shoot the person and his friend, police said. Police did not reveal the identities of the other people involved.

Mr. Bautista, the victim of a 2011 shooting in Riverhead, allegedly retrieved a black pistol from the residence and pointed it at the person, police said.

The victim was treated at the scene by Riverhead Town Ambulance volunteers for a head injury.

Mr. Bautista was arrested, transported to police headquarters and arraigned in the morning. He was held in Riverhead Town Justice Court on $50,000 bail.

He was charged two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing, assault and criminal possession of a firearm.