West Islip Police Blotter: Drugs, Fleeing Police, Stolen Vehicle

WEST ISLIP, NY — Curious about what's going on in your neighborhood? These are recent incidents reported in the West Islip area from April 22 through April 28.

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

• April 25: Vincent Zaccaria, 26, of Mariner Circle in West Islip, was driving a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado with "excessive speed" when police tried to pull him over, but Zaccaria attempted to flee and kept driving, police said. When they finally stopped him, they discovered the truck was stolen. Once Zaccaria was in police custody, they found him in possession of oxycodone, more than a half ounce of cocaine and a scale. Zaccaria was charged with third-degree fleeing police officers in a motor vehicle, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, two counts third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and second-degree criminal possession drug paraphernalia.

• April 25: At approximately 5:30 p.m., police found Joseph Leonard, 58, of West Islip, unconscious behind the wheel of his 2016 Jeep Wrangler after he rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a light on Pine Aire Drive and 5th Avenue in Brentwood, police said. Once police removed him from the vehicle, they gave him Narcan and transferred him to South Shore University Hospital for further treatment released into police custody. Leonard was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. He was also issued a summons for driving with a revoked license. He later died in his cell at Third Precinct in Bay Shore.