Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate two men who allegedly stole from a Commack store in February.
The two men pictured above allegedly stole more than 80 Stanley water bottles from Dick’s Sporting Goods, located at 6070 Jericho Turnpike, at 2:07 p.m. on February 4. The merchandise was valued at approximately $3,225.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise from a Kings Park business last month.
The man pictured allegedly used a stolen credit card to purchase liquor at Kings Park Wine & Liquor, located at 88 Main St., on February 7 at 8:20 p.m. The man fled in a van. The liquor had an approximately value of $2000.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise from a Port Jefferson Station store this month.
The man pictured allegedly stole tools from Ace Hardware, located at 1106 Route 112, on February 13 at approximately 10:50 a.m.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 11 that Jeffrey Sloan, 62, and Rashad Sloan, 33, both of Central Islip, were indicted for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, and other related charges, for selling narcotics after an investigation into the fatal overdose of a 25-year-old Brentwood resident.
“I have said it time and time again: we will not tolerate the sale of these poisons in Suffolk County,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will prosecute those responsible for selling deadly drugs and causing fatal overdoses to the fullest extent possible. Furthermore, I will continue to push for the passing of the ‘Death by Dealer’ statute to ensure that all dealers are charged with homicide for the fatal overdoses that they cause.”
According to the investigation, on February 6, 2025, members of the Suffolk County Police Department responded to a residence in Brentwood in response to a fatal drug overdose. While at the location, law enforcement recovered nine glassine envelopes containing residue from a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and ketamine. Additionally, a pill containing Xanax and the victim’s cellular telephone were also recovered from the scene.
A review of the victim’s cellular telephone revealed communication between him and an individual now known to investigators as Jeffrey Sloan. Text messages revealed that the victim ordered narcotics from Jeffrey Sloan, namely 13 bags of heroin and one Xanax pill, in exchange for the negotiated price of $140. The two men arranged to meet at the 7-Eleven convenience store located at Crooked Hill Road in Brentwood on February 4, 2025.
Members of law enforcement then responded to the 7-Eleven to investigate and were able to obtain surveillance footage. The video depicted the victim utilizing the ATM machine to withdraw cash. Jeffrey Sloan is observed in the surveillance video arriving at the 7-Eleven location and allegedly engages in what appears to be a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction with the victim.
An autopsy performed by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner found fentanyl, cocaine, ketamine, morphine, and fentanyl analogues in the victim’s body and determined the death to be caused by a mixed drug intoxication.
On February 19, 2025, members of the Suffolk County Police Department searched Sloan’s residence, his camper, and three vehicles pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant. They allegedly found over 16 ounces of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin, over half an ounce of cocaine, over 100 assorted pills, including Xanax and oxycodone, numerous cellular telephones, a ledger detailing narcotics transactions, and drug paraphernalia, including digital scales, glassine envelopes, cutting agents, gloves and masks.
Also present at the residence was Rashad Sloan. When they searched Rashad Sloan’s bedroom, police recovered a pistol, a high-capacity magazine, a quantity of cocaine, a digital scale, drug packaging material, and cash.
On March 10, 2025, Jeffrey Sloan was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, for the following charges contained in the indictment:
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-1 felony;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class A-2 felony;
• One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony;
• Thirteen counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony;
• One count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony; • Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Class D felonies;
• Six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Class A misdemeanors; and
• Five counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Class A misdemeanors.
Justice Horowitz ordered Jeffrey Sloan remanded during the pendency of the case. He is due back in court on March 27, 2025, and faces 24 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Adeline Arvelo, Esq.
On March 10, 2025, Rashad Sloan was arraigned on the indictment before Justice Horowitz for the following charges contained in the indictment:
Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony;
One count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony; and
Two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Class A
misdemeanors.
Justice Horowitz ordered Rashad Sloan held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $500,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on April 3, 2025, and faces 9 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by Raymond Perini, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dana Gremaux of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by members of the Suffolk County Narcotics Section.
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 11 that Cristian Mendoza-Baquiax, 37, of Riverhead, pleaded guilty to three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, and other related charges, following a multi-vehicle crash on County Road 105 in Riverhead, killing his own passenger, Nelson Reyes-Muxin, 33, of Riverhead, and injuring several others.
“This defendant’s fateful decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol caused the tragic death of Nelson Reyes-Muxin and severe injuries to several other individuals,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This conviction is a reminder to all that drunk driving kills.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on August 7, 2024, at approximately 6:15 p.m., the defendant was operating a white 2010 Acura MDX northbound on County Road 105 in Riverhead. Mendoza-Baquiax drove around a northbound car at a high rate of speed and into the opposite lane of travel, where he struck several vehicles. In total, seven cars were involved in the crash. A passenger in the defendant’s vehicle, Nelson Reyes- Muxin, died as a result of injuries he sustained. Another passenger also in the defendant’s vehicle sustained multiple fractures to his arm, a dislocated shoulder, and was treated at Peconic Bay Medical Center.
The driver of another vehicle involved in the crash sustained two fractured legs, a dislocated ankle, and was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital for medical treatment. In addition, two other individuals were transported to local hospitals for injuries they sustained as a result of the crash.
Mendoza-Baquiax exhibited signs of intoxication and stated that he had six beers. He was subsequently placed under arrest and consented to a blood draw upon request by police. Toxicology tested of his blood revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .21%. The defendant was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained from the crash. A sample of the defendant’s blood taken by hospital staff upon his admission was also seized pursuant to a search warrant. Subsequent toxicology testing of that sample, taken at an earlier time than the sample taken by police, revealed that he had a .25% blood alcohol content.
On March 11, 2025, Mendoza-Baquiax pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski to the following charges:
Three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Class B felonies;
One count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D felonies;
One count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a Class E felony; and
Two counts of Assault in the Third Degree, Class A misdemeanors.
The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on April 15, 2025, where he is expected to be sentenced to five to 15 years imprisonment. He is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexander Bopp of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Michael Carrieri of the Riverhead Town Police Department.
The Suffolk County Police Department released the following statement on March 10 on the brush fires in the pine barrens this past weekend:
“Following an investigation by Suffolk County Police Arson Section detectives, the cause of multiple
brush fires on March 8 has been preliminarily ruled accidental. Detectives believe the cause is related to
a fire that spread following an attempt to make s’mores at a home on North Cozine Road in Manorville.
It’s believed strong winds spurred additional fires from embers leading to the brush fires.
Police are continuing to speak with witnesses and investigate tips.”
Update: Joseph Scappatore has died from his injuries.
Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a single-vehicle crash that seriously injured a man in Greenlawn on March 9.
Joseph Scappatore was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado in a northwest direction on Greenlawn Road, when the vehicle left the roadway near Ducharme Lane, struck a tree, and overturned, at approximately 9:35 p.m.
Scappatore, 32, of Greenlawn was transported via Greenlawn Rescue to Stony Brook University Hospital in critical condition.
The vehicle was impounded for a safety check.
The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.
Suffolk County Police have arrested a Brentwood man for allegedly driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle crash that seriously injured a woman in Hauppauge on March 9.
Eybee Guevara was driving a 2021 Subaru southbound on Route 111 when his vehicle struck an eastbound 2011 Honda at the intersection with Route 347 at approximately 4:35 a.m.
A passenger in the Honda, Ashley Flores-Reyes, 29, of Coram, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The Honda driver, Rafael Gonzalez-Duran, 46, of Brentwood, and passenger Allison Vasquez-Guevera, 23, of Smithtown, were also transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Guevara, 27, was charged with Driving While Intoxicated: Previous Conviction Within 10 years. He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 10 at First District Court in Central Islip.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine with Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Executive Romaine's office
By Daniel Dunaief
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. Photo courtesy the Suffolk County Police Department
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina is constantly looking for ways to ensure the safety of residents and improve upon a force he believes is the best in the nation.
After a recent visit to an intelligence center in Nassau County that tracks potential school threats, Catalina created a similar threat matrix in Suffolk.
Earlier this week, he described an incident at Brentwood High School Ross Center in which officials found bullets.
During an active investigation, the SCPD plans to determine who brought those bullets to school. Once they do, they will follow up with an ongoing assessment of the risk anyone might pose to students.
“Based on that matrix, we determine how often we’re going to visit that individual to determine whether that threat level has changed,” Catalina said. “If somebody was willing to bring bullets” to school, that person is “probably somebody that’s going to be high on the threat matrix,” said Catalina.
As he continues in a role he took last month and that he has described as his “dream job,” Catalina plans to take several measures to improve the safety of county residents.
In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview, Catalina shared his thoughts on reducing traffic accidents and injuries, enhancing school safety, recruiting officers from a range of communities and developing and promoting his senior staff.
‘Too many’ car accidents
“Road safety is first and foremost,” said Catalina. “There are way too many accidents with injuries and fatalities on our roadways.”
Catalina, who is a native of Sayville and has 33 years of experience in various New York police forces, plans to bolster the highway enforcement division.
In addition to building on a street takeover task force, he’s starting a program where he’s bringing in precinct commanders on a biweekly basis to discuss accidents and accidents with injuries.
He’s looking for ways to improve on the deployment of personnel to use enforcements actions that make the roadways safer.
The Suffolk County Police Department is partnering with Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. and with the state police in this effort.
The department is also looking at changes in Driving While Intoxicated numbers over time.
“We’d always like to see improvement,” Catalina said.
The county has experienced an increase in drivers who are impaired from marijuana.
Detecting drivers affected by pot is challenging, Catalina said.
Under Catalina’s leadership, the department is planning to increase training that would help officers recognize the effects of people who are high while they are driving.
Current recruits will spend an additional few days in the police academy to “give them a base level training in that kind of skill,” Catalina added.
Cell phones have also become a hazard. Catalina would like to see increased enforcement of laws that prevent driving while texting.
Cars are swerving around the road as drivers stare at their phones while sending a message to someone else, who also might be driving.
The SCPD is also training officers on the use of body worn cameras, making sure the footage they collect is usable and available for prosecutions.
Chief of Detectives William Doherty. Photo from Suffolk County Police Department
Catalina is confident the academy prepares recruits for their work. He sees opportunities, however, to enhance field training.
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, was a field training officer.
“I know we don’t have any Derek Chauvins in the Suffolk County Police Department,” said Catalina. “The lesson for everyone in law enforcement is that those training officers are incredibly impactful.”
He wants to ensure that the “right people are delivering the right messages,” he said.
Opioids
Even though the numbers are down, Catalina believes the county has “way too many opioids deaths. One is too many.”
He is working closely with District Attorney Ray Tierney and is in regular contact with him, which can include several phone calls each day.
“Not only are we going to target the horrible people that sell that poison and prosecute them in connection with the DA’s office,” but the department will also work with service providers to help people in need affected by addiction, Catalina said.
School safety
The SCPD offers a service to all the schools to provide active shooter training.
The officers explain what to do, what not to do, and how to harden infrastructure to prevent the kinds of tragedies that have devastated communities around the country from happening in the county.
He recognizes the need to be judicious about deploying additional school resource officers, as the department needs to be careful about taking resources away from other programs.
Catalina provides information to schools about safety, leaving it up to each district to create their own plans.
Police recruitment
Chief of Operations Milagros Soto. Photo courtesy the Suffolk County Police Department
Catalina emphasized the importance of having police officers who can relate to people who live in the communities they serve.
“When somebody calls the police, it puts them at ease to see people that look like them or people that can speak their language,” said Catalina. “It’s also a tremendous recruitment tool for people to see people who look like them.”
The SCPD doesn’t want to compromise when it comes to the quality of the officers.
“We feel we can still get quality officers and do a better job of recruiting people who will come from the communities in Suffolk County that are underserved and underrepresented,” Catalina added.
Catalina believes the department has made progress with Latino, Asian and female officers, but feels the SCPD is “still struggling with recruitment of African Americans.
Catalina has been working with the Guardians Association, an organization comprised primarily of black law enforcement professionals. He also visited El Salvador with Sheriff Toulon, where he got some “good ideas on recruitment” that he hopes to institute next time around.
Staff promotions
Apryl Hargrove, commanding officer of the hate crimes unit. Photo courtesy the Suffolk County Police Department
Catalina has been reorganizing his executive staff, which he believes will enhance the department
The elevation in rank for these staff is merit based, driven by aptitude and performance.
Milagros “Millie” Soto has become Chief of Operations, a three star designation, and is the first woman in the department to hold that rank.
A 37-year veteran of the department, Soto has held a variety of roles.
“I’m thrilled” with this promotion, Catalina said.
Catalina also promoted William Doherty as Chief of Detectives.
Doherty “brings a tremendous amount of experience” and has run “quite a few places in the police department.”
Among other promotions, Apryl Hargrove has become the commanding officer of the hate crimes unit.
“Any time there’s a hate crime, it can devastate a community,” said Catalina. Hargrove is “an incredible person” who recently retired from the Army.
Hargrove, who is now a detective sergeant and is the highest ranking female African American officer in the department, is “going to do a phenomenal job,” Catalina said.
While Catalina is encouraged with the department, he believes these promotions help “build a really strong team.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency Saturday, March 8 after multiple fire departments and emergency services battled three major brush fires in the Pine Barrens. The first fire started in Center Moriches around 1 p.m. and then spread very quickly to East Moriches, Eastport and Westhampton just north of Gabreski Airport. The National Guard was also involved in water drops. As of 8:30 p.m., portions of Sunrise Highway remained closed past exit 58 and the fire was 50% controlled. One firefighter was injured with burns and was flown to Stony Brook University for treatment.
Photo courtesy of Suffolk County Executive Facebook
“The fire is now two miles wide and two miles long. Part of the problem is the wind. …We stop this fire from spreading, and then we try to contain it,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said at a press conference Saturday evening. “It is not under control, as I speak, and probably will not be for several hours, if not probably tomorrow as well, because the winds will keep the embers alive, and we have to worry every day that this fire will start up again.”
“This is a coordinated effort to make sure that this does not turn into 1995 as well,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, referring to the August 1995 Sunrise Fire that burned 4,500 acres of pine barrens and took four days to contain. “I have authorized all of the heavy equipment from the landfill, from our highway department, our parks department — we are here to assist any fire department {in their efforts}. We are in this together …. and I pray for everyone’s safety.”
“Suffolk County continues to work with our partners in the Town of Southampton, New York State, Nassau County and the federal government to manage the active brushfires in Southampton. Thank you to Representative Nick LaLotta, Senator Chuck Schumer, Governor Kathy Hochul, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Southampton Supervisor Maria Z. Moore, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the Southampton Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Department, state Representative Tommy John Schiavoni, state Senator Anthony Palumbo, NYC Mayor Eric Adams – who has offered us assistance – and volunteers from over 80 fire departments and emergency service agencies for their work in helping to combat the fires,” added Romaine in a statement.
“I spoke with County Executive Ed Romaine [this afternoon] about the brush fire in the Pine Barrens and informed him that the State of New York is here to provide any resources and support he needs. The New York National Guard has already begun providing air support by helicopter and is coordinating with local law enforcement,” said Gov. Hochul in a press release. “I have also deployed personnel from the Office of Emergency Management, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Parks and the New York State Police to assist Suffolk County’s response to this crisis. Public safety is my top priority, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to keep Long Islanders safe.”
