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Tag: Suffolk County Police

  • CNA Arrested After Alleged Forcible Touching of Disabled Patient at Middle Island Rehab Facility

    CNA Arrested After Alleged Forcible Touching of Disabled Patient at Middle Island Rehab Facility

    MIDDLE ISLAND, NY — A certified nursing assistant was arrested Friday after allegedly forcibly touching a disabled patient at a Middle Island rehabilitation facility, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

    Police identified the defendant as Kevin Lopez-Diaz, 23, of Farmingville. He was arrested at Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing, 49 Oakcrest Ave., at approximately 3:20 p.m. on September 19 following an investigation by Sixth Squad detectives. 

    According to police, the alleged incidents occurred on September 3 and September 4 and involved a 32-year-old disabled woman receiving care at the facility. Police said the patient later told another certified nursing assistant about the incidents, and that employee called 911. 

    The patient was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital on September 5 for an evaluation. 

    Lopez-Diaz was charged with Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree and two counts of Forcible Touching, police said. He was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned September 20 at First District Court in Central Islip. 

    Suffolk County Police are also asking anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Lopez-Diaz to contact the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652. 

    The charges are accusations. Lopez-Diaz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

  • Three Injured, One Seriously, in Smithtown Crash

    Three Injured, One Seriously, in Smithtown Crash

    SMITHTOWN, NY — Three people were injured, one seriously, in a two-vehicle crash in Smithtown early Thursday morning, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

    Fourth Squad detectives said the collision occurred at approximately 6:15 a.m. on September 17 at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and County Center Road. 

    Police said Robert Schugman, 61, of Smithtown, was driving a 2010 Honda Odyssey westbound on Veterans Memorial Highway when his vehicle collided with a 2013 Dodge Caravan driven by Laurence Ackerman, 68, of Farmingdale. 

    Jerome Foster, 65, of Amityville, who was a passenger in Ackerman’s vehicle, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital.

    Ackerman was also taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with injuries police described as non-life-threatening. Schugman was transported to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown with non-life-threatening injuries. 

    Police did not announce any arrests or charges in connection with the collision, and the department’s release did not identify a cause.

    Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks as Fourth Squad detectives continue investigating the crash. 

    Detectives are asking anyone with information about the collision to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452. 

  • Four Arrested, Race Car Impounded After Alleged Yaphank Street Takeover

    Four Arrested, Race Car Impounded After Alleged Yaphank Street Takeover

    YAPHANK, N.Y. — Four Connecticut men were arrested and a truck, trailer and race car were impounded following an alleged street takeover in Yaphank early Sunday morning, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

    Police said a 911 caller reported a large gathering of vehicles at approximately 1:10 a.m. on September 13 on Express Drive North, west of Sills Road.

    Members of the Suffolk County Police Street Takeover Task Force responded to the area and observed vehicles racing, according to the department. Police said the vehicles began dispersing after officers arrived. 

    Officers subsequently stopped a truck that was towing a trailer carrying a race car and arrested four people.

    Police identified the driver as Christian Vargas Hernandez, 28, of Meriden, Connecticut. He was charged with reckless driving, third-degree unlawful fleeing of a police officer in a motor vehicle, and unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races. 

    Three other Meriden residents — John Maldonado, 33; Lawrence Torres, 30; and Efrain Rivera, 35 — were each charged with unlawful speed contests, sideshows and races, according to police. 

    The department said the truck, trailer and race car were impounded.

    All four men were issued Field Appearance Tickets and are scheduled to be arraigned at a later date. Police did not announce an arraignment date in the release. 

    The arrests are the latest enforcement action involving Suffolk County’s Street Takeover Task Force. In July, the department reported arresting nine people and impounding 12 vehicles following a separate alleged street takeover in East Farmingdale. Police said that incident involved vehicles blocking a roadway while drivers allegedly performed stunts, donuts and burnouts. 

    In the Yaphank case, police have not alleged that the four defendants have any connection to the July incident.

    No injuries were reported in Sunday’s police release.

    The case remains at the accusation stage. A criminal charge is not a conviction, and all four defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

  • Huntington Spa Employee Charged With Forcible Touching After Massage, Police Say

    Huntington Spa Employee Charged With Forcible Touching After Massage, Police Say

    Suffolk County Police have arrested a spa employee following an investigation into an alleged forcible-touching incident during a massage in Huntington.

    Police said Steven Dunn, 39, of Syosset, was charged with Forcible Touching, a misdemeanor, after Second Squad detectives investigated a woman’s report involving a massage at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, 315 Walt Whitman Road. 

    According to police, the alleged incident occurred on December 19, 2025, at approximately noon. Investigators said Dunn allegedly touched the woman inappropriately while she was on a massage table.

    The woman did not initially report the alleged incident to police. 

    Police said the case developed months later after Dunn located the woman’s Facebook page and sent her a message on September 1, 2026, notifying her about his new workplace. According to the department, the woman then contacted police. 

    Second Squad detectives investigated the complaint and subsequently arrested Dunn.

    He was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date, according to police. 

    Suffolk County Police are also asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Dunn to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252. 

    Police did not announce any additional charges or alleged victims in the September 9 release.

    The department emphasized that the charge is an accusation and that Dunn is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

    The investigation was handled by detectives assigned to the Suffolk County Police Department’s Second Squad.

  • Woman Seriously Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash on Route 347 in Hauppauge

    Woman Seriously Injured in Three-Vehicle Crash on Route 347 in Hauppauge

    HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a three-vehicle crash in Hauppauge that left one woman seriously injured.

    Police said the crash happened at about 9:46 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, on Route 347 at Route 111. 

    According to police, Marta Pineda, 45, of Brentwood, was driving a 2008 Acura SUV eastbound on Route 347 when she attempted what police described as an illegal left turn northbound onto Route 111. The Acura struck a 2019 Toyota SUV traveling westbound, causing the Toyota to hit a 2020 Hyundai sedan. 

    The Toyota passenger, Nancy Garcia, 68, of Lake Grove, was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries.

    The Toyota driver, Raymond Garcia, 68, of Lake Grove, was also taken to Stony Brook with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Pineda was treated for minor injuries. The Hyundai driver, Matthew Wu, 29, of Lake Grove, was not injured. 

    Police said all three vehicles were impounded for safety checks.

    Pineda received several summonses, including one for improper turn. A summons is an allegation and does not constitute a finding of guilt. 

    Fourth Squad detectives are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone with information about the crash to call 631-854-8452. 

  • Bay Shore High School Teacher Arrested on Stalking Charge Involving Former Student

    Bay Shore High School Teacher Arrested on Stalking Charge Involving Former Student

    SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. — A Bay Shore High School teacher has been arrested on a stalking charge after Suffolk County Police say an 18-year-old former student reported that he followed her from her home to Selden.

    Police identified the teacher as John Kennedy, 53, of St. James.

    According to Suffolk County Police, the woman noticed Kennedy following her on the morning of Sept. 3 as she traveled from her home to Selden. Police were called at approximately 10:40 a.m. after she reached her destination. 

    Kennedy was arrested later that afternoon at his St. James residence.

    During the investigation, Sixth Precinct Crime Unit officers determined that Kennedy allegedly had a sexual relationship with the student when she was 17 and a senior at Bay Shore High School. Police also said Kennedy had been seen driving past her home multiple times in recent weeks. 

    Kennedy was charged with Stalking in the Fourth Degree.

    Police said he was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and scheduled for arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip on Sept. 4. 

    Detectives are asking anyone with information about the case — or anyone who believes they may also have been victimized by Kennedy — to contact the Sixth Precinct Crime Unit at 631-854-8626. 

    The allegations remain under investigation.

    A criminal charge is an accusation, and Kennedy is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.