Cops: Mother, daughter arrested for bat attack in Riverside

A previous dispute between a mother and daughter and a Riverhead woman took a violent turn last month when the mother and daughter reportedly ran down the woman with a minivan in Riverside, then teamed up to beat her with a baseball bat and prevent onlookers from intervening, according to Southampton Town police.

Both women have been arrested and charged with felony assault, police said.

According to a police press release, the mother and daughter — Patricia Seymour, 61, and Allison Cowell, 34, both from Ridge — targeted the victim while she was riding a bicycle near the Shamrock gas station in Riverside on April 11.

Ms. Cowell rammed the victim with a mini-van, knocking the bicyclist to the ground, police said.

Ms. Cowell then jumped out of the van, took a baseball bat and hit the 30-year-old female victim about 20 times while her mother, Ms. Seymour, stopped bystanders from helping, said police Lt. Susan Ralph. 

The victim was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead for treatment of bruises to her body, Lt. Ralph said.

Ms. Cowell was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, as well as third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said. Ms. Seymour was also charged with second-degree assault.

Police said there was an existing warrant for Mr. Cowell’s arrest related to a previous aggravated unlicensed driving incident. Police did not say what the earlier dispute between the victim and the mother and daughter concerned.

Police detectives have asked anyone with additional information to call Southampton Town Police Detectives at (631) 702-2230.