Southampton Blotter: MS-13 gang member arrested on drug charges

Two Flanders men, one described by police as a gang member, were arrested at their Cypress Avenue home last Thursday following an investigation into cocaine sales in the area, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force, which made the arrests in conjunction with the Southampton Town Police Emergency Services Unit and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit.

Arrested were Jose Osmel Villatoro, 24, who police said is a “self-described gang member of MS-13,” and Jose F. Villatoro, 32.

MS-13, which is short for Mara Salvatrucha, is a violent gang originating in El Salvador, and officials say it has a growing presence on Long Island. Four MS-13 members were involved in a shooting in Southold last fall.

The Task Force, which uses undercover officers from numerous police enforcement agencies, had been investigating drug sales, specifically cocaine sales, at the Cypress Avenue location prior to last Thursday’s arrests, made during a 6 a.m. raid, according to police.

Mr. Osmel Villatoro was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, while Mr. Villatoro was charged with third-, fifth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, according to police.

It was unclear what the relation of the two suspects is. Both are facing Class B felony charges punishable by up to 25 years in jail.

• A Flanders man was pulled over for speeding, and then charged with driving while intoxicated Saturday, according to Southampton Town Police.

Pablo Perez-Madrid, 22, of Moon Avenue in Flanders was stopped for speeding Saturday morning at about 5:40 a.m. on Montauk Highway and Old Country Road in East Quogue, according to police.

Once he was pulled over the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, as well as other signs of intoxication.

Mr. Perez-Madrid was charged with DWI and speeding.

• A Riverhead man who was observed swerving out of his lane was pulled over and charged with DWI and other charges, according to police.

Emilio Martinez, 40, of Roanoke Avenue was stopped about 3 a.m. on Pine Court and Ridgewood Lane in Hampton Bays Monday and arrested after failing a blood alcohol test and performing badly on field sobriety tests, according to police.

He also resisted arrested and tried to escape, but was caught shortly afterward, police said.

Mr. Martinez was charged with DWI, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, resisting arrest and other traffic charges.

• Terrance Latimore Jr., 17, of Brookhaven Avenue in Flanders was charged with second-degree criminal mischief early Monday after he was involved in a verbal dispute at his home that ended with him destroying two flat-screen televisions, according to police.

• An unknown amount of scrap aluminum was reported missing from a junkyard on Flanders Road Monday. The value of the missing aluminum was not known, according to police. The junkyard has locks, gates and fences that were all secure, police said.

• About $200 worth of copper piping was reported stolen from a hot-water heater in a home being renovated on Evergreen Road in Flanders last Thursday.

• A Riverhead woman reported last Thursday that someone had used her credit card to illegally purchase $204 worth of gasoline from the Shamrock Gas Station on Flanders Road in Riverside. The woman reported the incident to her bank, which issued her a new card and instructed her to call police, officials said.