Northport Police Blotter: 2 DWI Arrests Made

NORTHPORT, NY — Check out some recent police incidents for the Northport Village area from May 6 through May 12.

The Northport Police Department posted the following information. All charges are accusations and do not signify guilt.

Arrests

• Thomas Brand, 54, of Commack, was driving a gray 2021 Nissan Rogue eastbound on Fort Salonga Road around 2:10 a.m. May 11 when he did not stop at a solid red light before entering the intersection to make a right turn, police said. Police stopped Brand and said his breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and his speech was "very" slurred and sluggish, police said. Brand was "unable to answer simple questions" and could not produce his driver's license, New York State registration and proof of insurance, police said. Upon exiting the car, Brand had to use the Rogue to steady himself and was very unsteady on his feet, police said. He performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests, police said. Brand was arrested, where he took an Intoxilyzer 9000 chemical test, police said. Brand was charged with aggravated DWI and fail to stop right turn on red.
• Amanda Ferrer, 31, of Mount Sinai, was operating a white 2022 Lincoln north on Woodbine Avenue around 8:40 a.m. May 12, police said. She was following too closely to the vehicle in front of her, driving erratically and continuously honking her horn at the vehicle, police said. Ferrer drove through a stop sign and made a right turn east onto Main Street, police said. She could not maintain her lane and was screaming out her car's driver seat window, police said. The officer tried to pull Ferrer over, but she continued to drive east on Main Street, police said. The officer continued to follow Ferrer while she refused to pull over as the officer activated his lights and sirens, police said. Ferrer eventually pulled over on Main Street at School Street, police said. Upon interviewing Ferrer, the officer observed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath, her eyes were glassy and bloodshot, her speech was slurred and sluggish, she was very unsteady on her feet and she performed poorly on several standardized field sobriety tests, police said. Ferrer was arrested and transported back to Northport Village Police Department where she refused a chemical test, police said. She was charged with driving while intoxicated (a felony), improper lane use, failed to stop at stop sign, and following motor vehicle too closely.

Incidents

• Police were called to Oak Street on May 6 for a scam call. A woman said she received a scam call from someone she didn't know claiming to be an attorney and that her grandson was in trouble and needed money. The woman immediately recognized this as a scam, disconnected the call, and told police.
• A baby deer was spotted on Sea Cove Road on May 6 after someone initially thought it was a loose dog.
• A Lisa Drive resident reported a computer scam attempt on May 7. The woman told police that a screen popped up on her computer telling her to call a hotline because her IP address was being used at another location. The woman said she never called the hotline and that she lost no money.
• A Highland Avenue woman on May 7 reported a suspicious package in the mail she received the day before. She told police she did not recognize the company. The package contained fake designer jewelry, which the woman said she did not buy. Police told the woman to not contact the company that sent the fake jewelry.
• Police went to Fort Salonga Road on May 8 because of a 911 hang up call with someone crying in the background. There was no answer at either door of the residence. Dispatch tried to contact all the known residents living at the home but could not. The number that called 911 was unable to receive incoming calls. Police could not take further action.
• Police were called to Horseshoe Drive for a report of a scam call. The man told police he received a call from someone who said that he was his grandson and needed help financially. The man knew it was a scam because he doesn't have any grandchildren and hung up the phone. The man didn't give any personal or financial information to the scam caller.
• A dog got loose on Earl Avenue on May 8. Police found the dog and brought him back to his owner.
• A Schooner Road resident reported on May 9 they've seen a large coyote or fox in the neighborhood over the past few weeks.
• Police were called to Ocean Avenue on May 9 for a report of a reckless driver. The caller told police he had an argument with the driver while working as a crossing guard. The argument was about the careless way the person was driving in the school zone. The guard said he grasped onto the person's vehicle to reprimand the driver. Both parties exchanged words and then the driver drove off. Police contacted the driver, who denied driving dangerously, but agreed that he argued with the crossing guard. Police suggested the man use an alternative route past the school during drop off and pick up hours to avoid future altercations with the guard. The man agreed to use alternative routes during those times.
• A male "acting inappropriate" on Main Street on May 9 was asked by police to go home, to which the person agreed.
• A man fainted at the John W. Engeman Theater on May 9. Northport Rescue brought him to Huntington Hospital.
• A runner suffered an injury on Norwood Avenue on May 11. Northport Rescue brought the runner to Huntington Hospital.
• A runner collapsed on Norwood Avenue on May 11. Northport Rescue brought the runner to Huntington Hospital.
• A hit-and-run motor vehicle crash was reported on Fort Salonga Road around 7:35 p.m. May 11.