(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the people who vandalized several Huntington businesses.

Suffolk County Police are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the people who vandalized several Huntington businesses. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Three people spray painted businesses and vehicles at nine different locations in Huntington on November 26 between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. The suspects spray painted the words, Smoke, Smoker, Ahep, Strep, RZ and Foise.

Three people spray painted businesses and vehicles at nine different locations in Huntington on November 26. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a man who was shot in Center Moriches on Sunday, December 13.

Seventh Precinct Detectives responded to the 7-Eleven, located at 632 Main St., after a 911 caller reported that a man with a gunshot wound to his leg was in the store’s parking lot at approximately 2:40 a.m.

Suffolk County Police are investigating the death of a man who was shot in Center Moriches on Sunday, December 13. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The male victim, who drove his vehicle to the convenience store, was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The victim’s identification is being withheld pending notification to next of kin. The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be remain confidential.

(Long Island, NY) The Homicide Squad reports the details of a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle that occurred in Merrick on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 4:42 P.M.

According to detectives, a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle, traveling eastbound on Sunrise Highway/Hewlett Ave. was in collision with a 2015 Lexus sedan, making a left turn from westbound Sunrise Highway to southbound Hewlett Ave.

Nassau County Police reports the details of a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a motorcycle that occurred in Merrick on Sunday, December 13. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The operator of the motorcycle, Joel McClain, 23, of Freeport was pronounced dead at the scene by Merrick Fire Department Emergency Medical Services. The male driver, 68, of the Lexus and his two female passengers were transported to a local hospital for trauma services.

Detectives report no apparent criminality. Both vehicles were impounded from the scene for brake and safety inspections.

The Village of Mastic Beach wins long anticipated grants for Comprehensive Plan

(Long Island, NY) New York State awarded its Consolidated-Funding Application (CFA) grants on Thursday, December 10th. The Village of Mastic Beach won two (2) grants totaling $42,175.

The first CFA grant is for $17,175 through the Local Waterfront-Revitalization Program (LWRP) funded by the New York State Department of State (DOS) Division of Planning (DOP). The LWPR grant will fund part of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan designated for waterfront revitalization. The comprehensive-planning process is slated to begin early 2016.

Mayor Maura P. Spery stated, ”In an attempt to minimize the fiscal impact of the Comprehensive Plan on our residents, I encouraged the Village’s Grant Writer Deborah Slack to apply for the Consolidated-Funding Application (CFA) in June. She did a terrific job on the application. I also want to thank Deputy Mayor Summa and Trustee Manzella for their tremendous support. Their ability to lobby our elected officials has been the key to securing this grant funding. I would like to thank the Governor’s Office, Senator Croci, Assemblyman Murray, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council for their support.”

In 2014, the Board passed a resolution to retain Wendel Associates to implement the Comprehensive Plan. Wendel, working with Vision Long Island, will create the document with intensive community input by the Mastic Beach Village residents. To satisfy the conditions of the grant, the Comprehensive Plan will address the issues that affect the Village’s entire waterfront.

By developing this Comprehensive Plan, Village residents will provide direction for revitalization by addressing sustainability, resiliency and energy efficiency. The Village of Mastic Beach, which was severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy, will conduct a studied review of its community’s waterfront, addressing the new dynamics on the waterfront resulting from coastal storms.

The second (CFA) grant won by the Village of Mastic Beach is for $25,000 to implement the Comprehensive Plan, which will include strategic planning and a feasibility study to transform the Village’s downtown into a walkable business district. Funded by the Empire State Development (ESD) Strategic Planning and Feasibility Study (SPFS), this grant will be added to the community driven Comprehensive Plan. A condition of this grant is that part of the Comprehensive Plan must focus on the Mastic Beach Village Business District and design it to be safe and enjoyable for pedestrians.

Deputy Mayor Bruce Summa said, “After the hard and arduous task of making the Comprehensive Plan a reality, this administration is moving the Village of Mastic Beach forward. These grants are a testament to the hard work of Mayor Spery and Trustee Manzella. We spent hours at the state level lobbying for our community. When the Comprehensive Plan begins in early 2016, the people will get to decide what the Village will become. Another promise delivered.”

Trustee Elizabeth “Betty” Manzella added, “We have to thank all the officials at the state and county levels who pushed to make the awards a reality. Moreover, let’s not forget Mayor Maura Spery and Deputy Mayor Bruce Summa, who both worked extremely hard for us. I applaud their efforts.

Attorney General Launches Website For Consumers To Test Internet Speeds At Home As Part Of Probe Into Internet Speeds

(Long Island, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced his office has launched an online form where New Yorkers can test and then submit data on the Internet speeds they are receiving at home. In October, the Attorney General sent letters to Time Warner Cable, Verizon and Cablevision asking for documents related to whether the Internet speeds they advertise are actually what households are receiving. The new online test is an opportunity for consumers to discover whether the advertised speeds are accurate.

“New Yorkers should get the Internet speeds they pay for.  Too many of us may be paying for one thing, and getting another,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “By conducting these tests, consumers can uncover whether they are receiving the Internet speeds they have paid for.”

Full instructions for taking the broadband test can be viewed here.

The test at Internethealthtest.org provides a customer’s “throughput” Internet speeds – the speeds at which customers actually reach content on the Internet. Once a test has been taken on Internethealthtest.org, consumers can submit a screenshot of the results to the Attorney General’s office by filling out the online form on the webpage.

“Common Cause/NY applauds Attorney General Schneiderman for setting up this testing site to help New Yorkers hold their Internet providers accountable to provide access at the ‎speed promised,”said Susan Lerner, Executive Director, Common Cause/NY. No individual New Yorker acting alone can influence the giant telecom companies that conrol broadband in our state, so the Attorney General’s investigation is very welcome and we look forward to helping gather the necessary data.”

“As Consumer Reports has pointed out, internet speeds can vary considerably, and consumers do not always get  the ‘blazingly fast’ internet speeds they are are paying for,” said Chuck Bell, Programs Director for Consumers Union.  “We have heard from dozens of customers in New York who are concerned that they are not getting the internet speeds promised by internet providers.   We therefore welcome and applaud Attorney General Schneiderman’s statewide investigation to ensure consumers are getting the full benefit of what they are paying for.”

The letters sent to the Internet providers in October asked for the companies to provide documents related to the number of customers receiving different levels of Internet services, disclosures made to actual or potential broadband customers concerning actual or expected Internet speeds, and other documents related to Internet speeds and interconnection agreements.

(Long Island, NY) First Squad detectives report the arrest of a Yonkers man for sexual abuse that occurred in Rockville Centre on Thursday, 12/03/15 at 12:00 P.M.

According to detectives, George Garcia, 29, while employed as a licensed massaged therapist at Elements Massage located at 316A Sunrise Highway, inappropriately touched a female client, 23, during her message.

Nassau County Police report the arrest of George Garcia, 29, of Yonkers for sexual abuse that occurred in Rockville Centre on Thursday, 12/03. Photo Credit: NCPD.

First Squad detectives arrested Garcia on Sunday, 12/13/15 in Baldwin. He is being charged with Forcible Touching, Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree and will be arraigned on Monday, 12/14/15 in First District Court, Hempstead.

Detectives request anyone who has been victimized by Garcia to contact Det. Malone in the First Squad at 516-573-6153.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad and Arson Section detectives are investigating a fire that killed a woman in Holtsville on Sunday, December 13.

Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct officers responded to a 911 call of a house fire at a residence on Mary Lu Drive at approximately 12:20 p.m.

Suffolk County Police are investigating a fire that killed a woman in Holtsville on Sunday, December 13. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Holtsville Fire Department responded and upon entry, located Annette Larusso, 65, of that address within the home. Larusso was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where she succumbed to her injures.

The investigation is continuing.

(Long Island, NY) Seventh Squad detectives report the arrest of an Amityville man for a burglary that occurred in Massapequa on Thursday, 12/10/15 at 6:45 P.M.

According to detectives, Mark Spruill, 49, entered Our Lady of Lourdes Church located at 855 Carmans Rd., through an unlocked door and used a large rock to smash open the poor boxes. The defendant removed an undisclosed amount of money from the boxes and fled the scene.

Nassau County Police eport the arrest of Mark Spruill, 49, of Amityville for a burglary that occurred in Massapequa on Thursday, 12/10. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Subsequent investigation by detectives led to the arrest of Spruill on Saturday, 12/12/15. He is being charged with Burglary 3rd Degree, Petit Larceny, Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree and Possession of Burglar Tools. He will be arraigned on Sunday, 12/13/15 in First District Court, Hempstead.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police have arrested a man for an armed robbery that he and three other male suspects committed in Coram on Sunday, December 13.

A male victim was confronted by four males, one armed with a knife, on Middle Country Road, Coram at approximately 12:45 a.m. today. The suspects assaulted the victim, and stole his leather coat and two diamond earrings while threatening him with a knife. The victim suffered facial injuries and was transported by police to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson where he was treated and released.

Suffolk County Police have arrested Armad Johnson, 25, for an armed robbery that he and three other male suspects committed in Coram on Sunday, December 13. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

One of the suspects, Armad Johnson, 25, who is undomiciled, was arrested and charged with Robbery 1st Degree. He is being held at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned this morning at First District Court in Central Islip.

This investigation is still active and detectives are asking anyone with information about the three unknown suspects in this case to contact the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

(Long Island, NY) Third Squad detectives are investigating a Robbery that occurred on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 5:32 pm in East Hills.

According to detectives, after returning home to her Peacock Drive residence from shopping, pulling into the driveway and unloading her packages, the 52 year old victim was approached by a male subject who grabbed her and demanded the jewelry she was wearing.

Nassau County Police are investigating a Robbery that occurred on Saturday, December 12 in East Hills. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

After a continued struggle, the subject began punching her in the face at which time the victim gave the subject her rings. He then grabbed her pocketbook and fled the scene. The victim followed the subject and was observed entering a dark colored auto that left southbound on Peacock Drive.

During the altercation the victim sustained contusions and abrasions to her head and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. She further described the subject as being 5’8”-5’11” tall and wearing a dark colored hoodie.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding this incident to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.