Crime & Safety

Crimes Nearby: Police Investigating Bias Incident

Crimes across the region as reported by Suffolk County Police.

Suffolk County Police are looking for the individuals they said were responsible for spray-painting racial slurs in Mastic Beach.

According to police, the slurs were found on a fence and a boat located at a home on Moriches Drive. Police believe the incident took place on June 10.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

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Man Charged With Stealing Puppy

A Middle Island man was arrested Thursday and charged with stealing a Rottweiler puppy, police said.

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Justin Geiger, 25, was charged with third degree burglary. Police said an employee of Freddie Pet Rescue in Middle Island reported the dog missing soon after opening the shop on Wednesday, June 24. The employee also reported that the front door was smashed.

Following an investigation, police said that Geiger had previously been in the store and asked if there was a microchip installed in the puppy, which there was not.

Police said when they visited Geiger’s home, he had the dog in his possession.

Shirley Man Facing DWI Charges

A Shirley man was arrested on Monday and charged with driving while intoxicated after police said his vehicle collided with another vehicle in Mastic.

According to police, Michael Facchiano, 29, was driving a 2000 Nissan pickup near Carlton Avenue and Herkimer Street when his vehicle was struck by a 2000 Ford Focus driven by Shad Teter. The incident happened at 7:50 p.m.

The passenger in the Nissan pickup, Jennifer Suydam, 27, was ejected from the vehicle and was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue for treatment of serious injuries.

Facchiano and Teter were also taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center with unspecified injuries.

Teter, 42, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.

The investigation is continuing and both vehicles were impounded for safety checks. Detectives from the Vehicular Crime Unit are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to call them at 631-852-6555. All calls will be kept confidential.

Motorcyclist Killed

Suffolk County Police are investigating a motorcycle crash that killed a man in Cold Spring Harbor on Tuesday.

According to police, Andrew Garafalo was driving a 2007 Kawasaki motorcycle south on Woodbury Road, when he crossed a solid double yellow line to pass another vehicle also travelling south. Garafalo, who police said was traveling at a high rate of speed, struck a 2001 Nissan SUV that was making a left turn from Saw Mill Road to travel north on Woodbury Road.

Garafalo, 21, of Melville, was transported to Huntington Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The operator of the 2001 Nissan, Sean Phillips Mayoka, 19, of Cold Spring Harbor, was not injured.

Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check and the investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with any information to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252. 


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