Crimes Nearby: Man Charged After Fatal Crash

Editor's Note: Information is supplied by various police departments. A criminal charge does not constitute a conviction.

Crimes reported this week elsewhere on the East End and nearby:

RIVERHEAD

• An Aquebogue man stands charged with reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, both misdemeanors, after New York State police said he was involved in an accident early Monday afternoon that killed two Nassau County men.

The accident occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. on the Meadowbrook Parkway, shutting down the busy roadway for over six hours as police conducted investigations.

According to police, 50-year-old Robert Beodeker was driving a GMC pick-up truck south, near the Southern State Parkway, when he struck a Nissan Maxima which had become disabled and stopped in hazard markings.

Both 76-year-old John Elder, of Freeport, and Edward Ross, 65, of North Bellmore, were pronounced dead at the scene.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

• A 21-year-old Brentwood man was got caught with drugs after he tossed a pet carrier in a parking lot, police said. According to Westhampton Beach police, after James Torres threw the carrier in the Valero gas station parking lot at the corner of Riverhead Road and Montauk Highway on Feb. 27 at 9:42 p.m., police pulled him over. In his car, police said they found a switch blade, hash — which the man first told police was Tiger Balm for his back, they said — a bong wrapped in a bag, and marijuana. He was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, both misdemeanors, as well as littering and unlawful possession of marijuana, both violations.

• The Westhampton Beach School District is investigating an allegation against a Westhampton Beach Middle School staff member made by several students.

According to Mike Radday, the school superintendent, as soon as the district was made aware of the allegations an investigation was launched and the Westhampton Beach Police Department contacted.

Detective Ed Hamor confirmed that the incident, which was brought to police attention on Monday, is being investigated, but said he could not provide much information since it is early in the investigation. He did say that the incident involved a male teacher and took place in the girl's locker room.

• A pair of burglars were caught after the driver of the getaway car crashed into a barrier on the Beach Lane Bridge, Quogue police said.

According to police, the duo were leaving the scene of burglary on Dune Road on Saturday when a Westhampton Beach officer, who was called into assist in the investigation, spotted the getaway car.

The officer turned around to follow the car only to find it minutes later smashed into the bridge. The driver, Diego Molina, 20, of East Quogue was charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, and handled over to Quogue police along with his passenger.

Quogue police slapped Molina with a felony charge of burglary, along with charges of criminal mischief in the second degree, a felony; criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor; and possession of burglar tools, a misdemeanor.

His passenger, Brendan Hennessey, 21 of East Quogue, was also charged with burglary in the second degree, a felony; criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor; and possession of burglar tools, also a misdemeanor.

EAST HAMPTON

• Harry A. Pena-Reyes, 27, of Springs, was held on $15,000 cash or $30,000 bond after he was picked up on a felony aggravated driving while intoxicated charge, due to a prior conviction and a high blood alcohol level, in Springs on Feb. 28.

Police said they initially spotted Pena-Reyes' vehicle at the intersection of Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road and Folkstone Drive going 55 mph in a 35 mph zone at about 2 a.m. According to police, the vehicle "partially left the roadway and crossed into the opposite lane of travel," before making a left turn onto Richardson Avenue.

Police turned on their lights and sirens to initiate a traffic stop, but Pena-Reyes did not stop, instead driving in the opposite lane of travel. He made a left onto Mary Street — where he lives — while continuing to ignore the police sirens. He drove to the end of Mary Street and stopped in a driveway. Police walked over to the vehicle, and they said he appeared drunk. He failed all field sobriety tests and was taken to headquarters. Police said he was previously convicted of DWI in East Hampton Town Justice Court on Oct. 14, 2010. His vehicle was impounded due to Suffolk County Seizure Law. His blood alcohol level was also above .18, police said.

East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana arraigned him. Unable to post bail, he was turned over to the Suffolk County sheriff's office.