Man Indicted After Knife Point Kidnapping, Robbery In Hamptons: DA

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An East Hampton man was indicted Wednesday after a knife point kidnapping and robbery earlier in September, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Darius Petty, 34, was indicted on charges including three counts of second-degree kidnapping, Tierney said.

According to the investigation, on September 3 at about 6:42 p.m., Petty approached three young men in a parking lot at the East Hampton Town Senior Center. The three were parked inside a vehicle when Petty reportedly asked if he could use one of their cell phones, the DA said.

They obliged and after using a phone, Petty reportedly brandished a knife, held it to the driver’s throat and demanded money from all the men, Tierney said.

Petty then entered the vehicle on the rear passenger side, held the knife to the front passenger’s throat, and demanded that the driver take him to an ATM at Damark’s Deli, located on Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton, the DA said.

Once there, Petty reportedly forced one of the men to retrieve cash from the ATM while still holding the others at knife point, Tierney said. When the man was unsuccessful in retrieving cash, Petty ordered the driver to take him to another bank in East Hampton Village, the DA said.

Petty then reportedly forced the driver to withdraw $300 and took it from him; he then instructed
the driver to bring him to Boatheaders Lane in East Hampton, where he exited the vehicle and fled
with the driver’s cash and other belongings, Tierney said.

On September 4, Petty was taken into custody by the East Hampton Village Police, the DA said.

On Wednesday, the DA said, Petty was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei,
for charges contained in the indictment, including three counts of second-degree kidnapping, a Class B violent felony; one count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony; and one count of first-degree attempted robbery, a Class C violent felony, Tierney said.

Justice Mazzei ordered Petty held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or $1 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, the DA said.

Petty is due back in court on October 4 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on
the top count, the DA said.

He is being represented by attorney John Halverson. "We've entered a plea of not guilty, and we're looking forward to fighting this case in the courts," Halverson said.

“The charges in this case stem from a deeply disturbing incident where the defendant allegedly approached the victims in a parking lot, threatened them with a knife, and allegedly forced one of the victims to withdraw $300 from an ATM," Tierney said. "In Suffolk County, violent crimes will always be met with serious legal consequences."