Cops: Flanders man uses PVC pipe to strike victim in face
A Flanders man who got into an altercation with a group of men in a Riverhead parking lot allegedly struck another man in the face with a section of PVC pipe, Riverhead Town police said.
Oto Paredes, 29, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, a felony. The victim, a 37-year-old Wading River man, was leaving work and not involved in the original altercation, police said. The victim was treated by Riverhead Ambulance volunteers and transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment, police said.
A law enforcement source said it appeared the group of men Mr. Paredes was in an altercation with ran once several people from a nearby bar came over. That’s when he struck the victim, who was hit above his left eye, requiring stitches, according to information presented during his arraignment Friday morning.
The incident occurred about 2:30 a.m. Friday when police responded to the 1st Street parking lot in the rear of West Main Street. The officers located a group of men who were detaining Mr. Paredes.
Mr. Paredes’ Legal Aid attorney Dan Ginty said in an interview that Mr. Paredes had been in a fight with a group of men in what was “an unfortunate drunken incident.”
“I don’t know if he thought he was still being attacked,” he said. “That seems probable.”
In addition to the assault charge, Mr. Paredes was arrested for second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor. Mr. Paredes allegedly swung the pipe at another man, leading to the menacing charge, prosecutors said.
An order of protection was issued against both victims.
Bail was set at $2,000, which Mr. Paredes indicated in court he intended to pay. He is due back in court Monday.
