Southampton Blotter: Woman attacks man who ‘disrespected’ her

Southampton Town police arrested a 24-year-old woman on weapons charges after she allegedly threatened two people with a knife in Riverside on Nov. 7. 

Lakea Staton of Riverhead entered a Riverleigh Avenue office at around 1:45 a.m. where a man whom she claimed disrespected her worked. She allegedly drew a knife on him, officials said, and another woman stepped between the two.

Ms. Staton also threatened the woman as she was removed from the office, police said. During the altercation, Ms. Staton cut the man’s right hand, requiring him to receive stitches at Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.

The man attempted to keep Ms. Staton out of the office by spraying pepper spray, police said. Ms. Staton then broke an office window in an attempt to get at the man again, but he countered with more pepper spray, police said.

Another man from a nearby office then came over and grabbed Ms. Staton, stopping her from entering the building until police arrived, officials said.

Ms. Staton was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree assault, both felonies, two counts of second-degree menacing with a weapon and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors, police said.

• Police arrested a 49-year-old man for driving while intoxicated in Flanders on Nov. 7.

Joseph Nalepa of Lindenhurst was driving on Point Road at around 4:20 a.m. with his rear taillights out, police said. An officer smelled alcohol on Mr. Nalepa’s breath and noticed that his eyes were red and glassy and his speech was slurred. He performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests and refused a breathalyzer test, police said.

Mr. Nalepa was charged with DWI and refusing a breath test, both misdemeanors, and driving without stop lamps and drinking alcohol on the highway, both traffic infractions, police said.

• A 54-year-old man was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Flanders on Nov. 7.

Chad Botts of Riverhead was driving on Riverside Avenue at around 11:45 p.m. with his rear plate lamps out, police said. When he was stopped an officer noticed his breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were red and glassy and he performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests, police said.

He was charged with driving while ability impaired, a misdemeanor, and driving without a plate lamp, a violation, police said.

• A Flanders man was arrested on unlicensed operation charges in Riverside Nov. 6, police said.

Manuel Ruiz, 65, failed to signal as he made a left turn onto Pine Street, police said. Once stopped by police he was found to have a suspended driver’s license and an open container of alcohol on the front passenger seat, police said. He was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor, officials said.

• A man was seen asking customers for money at the Valero gas station on Peconic Avenue in Riverside at around 10:15 a.m. on Nov. 7, police said. An employee of the gas station started to yell and curse at the complainant and told him to leave the property, which he did, officials said. Officers checked the area but could not find the man, police said.

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.