Crimes Nearby: Three-Hour Police Standoff with Barricaded Riverhead Man

Three Village

Police are investigating an incident of criminal mischief in which an unknown person damaged the green at St. George's Golf Club in Stony Brook by driving onto it. According to a police report, the incident occurred sometime between Sept. 14 at 9 p.m. and Sept. 15 at 7 a.m. The cost of the damages is unknown. Board members of St. George's Golf Club could not be reached for comment.

Two artists returned to their tents at Gallery North's outdoor art show in Setauket on the morning of Sept. 11 to find multiple works of art missing, according to police. According to reports, five paintings by artist Maggie Shively and eight etchings and oils by artist Karen Kemp were stolen sometime between the time they closed up shop on Saturday evening and the time they returned Sunday morning. Police are investigating the incident as petty larceny.

Port Jefferson

Police say a man wearing a bandana over his face and wielding a chef's knife robbed four people of cash while they were eating at the located on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Sunday morning at about 7:30 a.m.

The thief, described as white, in his 20s, approximately 6 feet tall, between 180 and 200 pounds and wearing dark clothing then fled on foot.

According to police, the four people robbed were the only ones eating in the restaurant at the time. The thief also made no attempt to steal money from the store's cash register.

Rafael Gonzalez, 53, of Port Jefferson Station was arrested Sept. 8 in Port Jefferson Station and charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon. Gonzalez was arrested for the alleged threat with a steak knife to another male on Route 112, Port Jefferson Station.

Riverhead

A 25-year-old man from Flanders suffered severe burns after allegedly having hot water poured on him on Sept. 17, but refused to share any information about his attacker with police, according to a police report.

Southampton Town Police responded to a call from East Street in Flanders on Saturday about a young man suffering burns. When officers arrived, the man yelled obscenities, did not cooperate with police and refused to share any information, stating that he was not a “snitch” and would not give or sign a statement, police said.

The Flanders-Northampton Volunteer Ambulance took the man, whose name was not disclosed, to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. From there, he was taken to the Stony Brook University Center Medical Center Burn Unit for further treatment, according to police.

Eventually, police said they were able to induce the man to call his suspected attacker on his cell phone. The man admitted pouring water on the Flanders man, who, he said, spit on him, according to reports.
The case is active and will be referred to the town police’s detectives' office, according to police documents.

Southampton Town Police Sergeant Michael Zarro said that given the severity of the victim’s injuries, detectives will most likely push him to provide more details and possibly press charges against the attacker. The incident was listed as second-degree assault, a felony. “But it depends on the investigation,” Sgt. Zarro said.

A Riverhead man who had barricaded himself in his home at 3 Segal Ave. on Tuesday morning turned himself into police without incident shortly after 1:30 p.m, according to a statement from Riverhead Police.

Zdsislaw Skobodzinski, 35, was arrested and charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration after police said the man barricaded himself inside his home, refused to come out, and threatened officers.

Police said they responded to a 911 call from the home at around 10:10 a.m. reporting a heated domestic dispute between Skobodzinski and his live-in girlfriend. When police arrived, Skobodzinski allegedly threatened to shoot officers and retreated into his house. His girlfriend and her six-year-old son were removed from the home by responding officers, according to the statement.

Riverhead Police shut down a portion of East Main Street between Elton Street and Route 58 while negotiators, including Police Chief David Hegermiller, came to the scene attempting to get the man to come out peacefully. At around 1:30 p.m., three hours into the standoff, police said Skobodzinski surrendered to police and was taken into custody. An unloaded double-barrel shotgun was found inside the house, according to the statement.

Suffolk County public information confirmed that they had been called to respond though they declined to comment further, forwarding requests to Riverhead Police. Chief Hegermiller could not be reached for comment at this time.

Caleb Christiansen-Erden, 22, of Quogue was arrested on Sept. 14  and charged with seven counts of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, stemming from an incident on Aug. 1. Christiansen-Erden was processed, arraigned and turned over to the with no bail. Christiansen-Erden was previously arrested in relation to after Riverhead police said he allegedly approached a teller at the bank with a note demanding money, according to police reports. He was given an undetermined amount of cash and fled on foot in an unknown direction, police said.

A 16-year-old Riverhead boy was arrested Sept. 12 and charged with first degree placing a false bomb or hazardous substance in relation to an incident involving a false bomb report . The boy was processed and held for arraignment, according to a police report.