Crimes Nearby: East Quogue Man Arrested with Air Rifle at School

The following information was supplied by the East End police departments. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does not indicate guilt.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

• A man searching for his daughter caused a stir at the Westhampton Beach Middle and High Schools last Monday.

At around 4:30 p.m., Westhampton Beach police responded to a call reporting that a man with a gun had been doing circles in his truck around the schools looking at kids for about 30 minutes.

Police said they were quickly able to locate the driver, a 39-year-old East Quogue man who was driving a silver pickup truck. Police said they soon learned that he was simply searching for his daughter.

He did, though, have an air rifle in his backseat and was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds, a violation.

“It was all a misunderstanding,” Lieutenant Trevor Gonce said.

In addition, he was cited for having a suspended license in the second degree, a misdemeanor. Police said his license was suspended due to an alcohol-related offense.

SOUTHAMPTON

• Over 10 pounds of freshly harvested marijuana was discovered during a traffic stop in Water Mill on Saturday night, landing two men in jail, Southampton Town police said. 

Police stopped a 2002 Ford Windstar minivan on Deerfield Road, north of Head of Pond Road, at 9:08 p.m., according to Sgt. Todd Spencer. The driver, Daniel Dost, a 38-year-old Centereach resident, was allegedly speeding and failing to maintain his lane of travel, Spencer said. 

The officer noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the minivan, and a subsequent search revealed two large garbage bags filled with the marijuana behind the back seat, in the rear cargo area, police said.

Dost and his passenger, William Whelan, a 43-year-old Lake Grove resident, were arrested and charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, a felony, unlawfully growing marijuana, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. 

• An opportunistic thief stole more than $6,000 worth of valuables during an estate sale on East Northview Hills on Sept. 21. According to the report, the victims were holding an all-weekend sale and had people come in and out of the home throughout the day. After the sale was over, the victims said they noticed items missing that weren’t sold. Stolen was a coin collection, valued at $3,600, a coral necklace, valued at $2,000 and copper wire with lights, worth about $500. The investigation is ongoing.

• Someone broke into a house on Chestnut Street and stole a number of rings and $5,000 in cash on Sept. 23. According to police a woman called 911 at around 2:30 after she returned home to find several locked boxes and drawers had been opened and rummaged through. Stolen was the cash and four rings of undetermined value. The victim said the burglary took place sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.