Police

Riverhead Blotter: Man smashes car with sledgehammer

A Riverhead man was arrested Dec. 21 after he reportedly struck a 2001 Mercedes ML3 with a sledgehammer following a dispute at Hitman Collision, police said.

Joseph Kess, age not disclosed, broke a side window and damaged the driver’s side door around 7 a.m., according to a police report. He then reportedly fled the Pulaski Street business in a 2000 Chevy Express.

Police said they later arrested Mr. Kess and charged him with second-degree criminal mischief.

• Marvin Gonzales-Flores, 21, of Southampton was arrested last Thursday at Express Deli & Cafe in Riverhead and charged with petit larceny, police said. Last Wednesday, Henry Salvatierra Estrada, 22, of Riverhead was also arrested at the deli on a petit larceny charge, officials said.

• Tara Bennett, age and address undisclosed, was arrested last Wednesday at Kmart and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said.

• A Flanders man was caught with marijuana near a Riverhead gym last Tuesday, police said.

An officer on patrol on Kroemer Avenue reportedly smelled a “strong odor” of marijuana coming from a 2014 Hyundai Elantra occupied by Matthew Gilligan, according to a police report. The officer saw Mr. Gilligan smoking a brown rolled paper that police said contained marijuana. Mr. Gilligan was arrested and charged with misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

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 The charges against them may later be reduced or withdrawn, or they may be found innocent.