Two incidents of knife play in Riverhead area (with video)
It was a bloody week in Riverhead Town, as police reported a slashing and a stabbing within three days of each another, both happening in the early morning hours.
In the first case, police received a 12:45 a.m. call Tuesday to East Main Street in Riverhead for two men fighting on a front lawn across from Town Hall.
Responding officers soon located Rodney Brooks, 25 of Riverhead, who had been stabbed in both of his legs. Mr. Brooks told police he did not know the man who had stabbed him. Police did not say what the fight was over.
Mr. Brooks was transported by ambulance to Peconic Bay Medical Center, officials said.
Additional police units, as well as a K9 unit, were brought in to search for the suspect, but he was not located, police said.
But after being discharged from Peconic Bay Medical Center, Mr. Brooks was placed under arrest for two outstanding warrants for petit larceny.
He was arraigned in Riverhead Justice Court and is due back in court March 5, police said.
Two days later, at about 12:15 a.m., Riverhead police were notified about a stabbing victim found on Shade Tree Lane in Aquebogue.
Ezra Fife of Shade Tree Lane reported a blood-soaked man had shown up on his doorstep asking for help. The victim, later identified as Albert Zachery, had been slashed on the right shoulder near his neck, said Detective Sergeant Joseph Loggia of the Riverhead Police Department.
“It was like a scene from a movie,” Mr. Fife said told the News-Review. “He was just standing there covered in blood. He got down on his hands and knees and said, ‘Please help me, please help me.'”
Mr. Fife said he and his wife called police and helped Mr. Zachary, trying to calm him down.
“He got his second wind and headed back to the [nearby] trailer park,” Mr. Fife said. “My wife yelled ‘Who did this to you?’ He said, Billy.'”
Police later located and arrested William Artale, 49 of Riverhead for second-degree assault in relation to the slashing. Mr. Artale was arraigned Thursday morning in Justice Court, where he pleading not-guilty.
Bail was set at $1,000 and he was transported to county jail. He is due back in court Feb. 26.
Mr. Zachary was treated and released from Peconic Bay Medical Center.
Police said is unclear what started the dispute, which happened inside the mobile home park.
“It was an argument,” said Sgt. Loggia, who described the victim’s wound as more a laceration rather than an actaul stab. “Nobody is giving 100 percent of the truth.”
SEE VIDEO FROM AQUEBOGUE:
