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36-Year-Old Dies In LIE Crash Involving Driver With Suspended License, Police Say 36-Year-Old Dies In LIE Crash Involving Driver With Suspended License, Police Say
36-Year-Old Dies In LIE Crash Involving Driver With Suspended License, Police Say A 36-year-old man was killed in a crash on the Long Island Expressway involving a driver with a suspended license, authorities said. The incident happened at around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, in Brentwood, on I-495 near Sagtikos Parkway, according to Suffolk County Police. Investigators said 36-year-old Brandon Gillespie, of Smithtown, had stopped his 2012 Jeep Liberty in the right eastbound lane of the LIE when he was rear-ended by a box truck. Gillespie was pronounced dead at the scene by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office, police said. The driver of the truck, 31-year-old…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Long Island Sheriff Employee Flees Scene Of Crash, Files False Report: DA Long Island Sheriff Employee Flees Scene Of Crash, Files False Report: DA
Long Island Sheriff Employee Flees Scene Of Crash, Files False Report: DA A civilian mechanic employed by a Long Island sheriff's office was indicted for allegedly leaving the site of a car crash he caused with a company vehicle and falsely reporting the crash later, authorities said. Brian Sloan, age 57, was driving a truck owned by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, his employer, on December 23, 2022, at the time of the accident, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney.  Sloan allegedly ran a red light in Patchogue, on Yaphank Road, crashing into a sedan making a lawful left turn and injuring the driver. Following the incident, Sloan reporte…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Home Invader Who Beat, Stabbed 30-Year-Old To Death On Long Island Gets Prison Time Home Invader Who Beat, Stabbed 30-Year-Old To Death On Long Island Gets Prison Time
Home Invader Who Beat, Stabbed 30-Year-Old To Death On Long Island Gets Prison Time More than four years after a 30-year-old man was stabbed to death during a home invasion on Long Island, his killer is heading to prison. Ade N’Gaii, age 39, of Harlem, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in Suffolk County Court on Monday, March 27. It came after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Kristopher Appel in October 2018. Earlier Report: ‘Driven By Greed’: Jury Convicts Man For Home Invasion Murder In Patchogue Prosecutors said N’Gaii and three others first drove to Appel’s home in Patchogue armed with a handgun to steal money and mariju…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Police Seeking Help Locating Long Island Hit-Run Driver Police Seeking Help Locating Long Island Hit-Run Driver
Police Seeking Help Locating Long Island Hit-Run Driver Police on Long Island are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the driver of a vehicle that struck a pedestrian and fled the scene. The crash took place in Suffolk County on Saturday, March 4, in Patchogue. According to police, a man was crossing North Ocean Avenue at West Lakewood Street when he was struck by a gray sedan. The injured man was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.  Anyon…

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by Kathy Reakes
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LI Man Stole Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability Benefits While Working, DA Says LI Man Stole Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability Benefits While Working, DA Says
LI Man Stole Dead Brother's ID To Collect $160K In Disability Benefits While Working, DA Says A Long Island man is accused of stealing his dead brother’s identity in order to collect six figures worth of disability benefits while still working, authorities said. Stavros Tsakonis, age 61, of Shirley, was arraigned on a 30-count indictment that includes grand larceny and identity theft in Suffolk County Court on Monday, March 13 Prosecutors said Tsakonis received more than $160,000 in disability benefits between February 2015 and January 2023 while claiming to the US Social Security Administration that he was too disabled to work. However, investigators discovered that he had all…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Suspect Nabbed After 25-Year-Old Struck At Patchogue Intersection Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Suspect Nabbed After 25-Year-Old Struck At Patchogue Intersection
Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Suspect Nabbed After 25-Year-Old Struck At Patchogue Intersection A suspect has been apprehended after a hit-and-run crash at a Long Island intersection that left one person dead. The crash happened around 4 a.m. Sunday, March 12 in Patchogue. A 25-year-old man was crossing Medford Avenue at Oak Street when he was struck by a southbound white 2014 Honda Civic traveling on Medford Avenue, Suffolk County Police said. Approximately one minute later, he was struck by a gray Nissan Armada.  Both drivers fled the scene. The man, identified as Nicholas Puzio, of Farmingville, was transported to Long Island Community Hospital in Patcho…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Man Who Nearly Killed Police Officer In Stabbing On Long Island Sentenced Man Who Nearly Killed Police Officer In Stabbing On Long Island Sentenced
Man Who Nearly Killed Police Officer In Stabbing On Long Island Sentenced A man who admitted to stabbing a Long Island police officer during an arrest, nearly killing him, will spend more than a decade in prison. Jonathan Nunez, age 27, of Centereach, was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in Suffolk County Court on Monday, March 13. It followed his guilty plea to nearly a dozen charges, including aggravated assault on a police officer, stemming from an incident in Patchogue in April 2021. Earlier Report: Man Who 'Nearly Killed' Police Officer In Patchogue Stabbing Pleads Guilty Prosecutors said Suffolk County Police Officer Christopher Racioppo attempted t…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Woman Accused Of Driving Under Influence Of Drugs After Her Child Is Found On Patchogue Roadway Woman Accused Of Driving Under Influence Of Drugs After Her Child Is Found On Patchogue Roadway
Woman Accused Of Driving Under Influence Of Drugs After Her Child Is Found On Patchogue Roadway A woman has been accused of driving under the influence of drugs after her child was found walking on a Long Island roadway overnight. The incident happened around 12:40 a.m. Sunday, March 12 in Patchogue.  The 32-year-old was driving a 2015 Scion on the eastbound Sunrise Highway Service Road with her 2-year-old daughter in the vehicle when she began to feel sick, Suffolk County Police said. The woman, identified as Anna Heinecker, of Mastic Beach, then pulled over on Meadow Wood Drive near Rolling Hill Drive and unbuckled her child from her car…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Hit-Run Crash: 25-Year-Old Killed After Being Struck By Car, SUV At Patchogue Intersection Hit-Run Crash: 25-Year-Old Killed After Being Struck By Car, SUV At Patchogue Intersection
Hit-Run Crash: 25-Year-Old Killed After Being Struck By Car, SUV At Patchogue Intersection Updated story - Fatal Hit-Run Crash: Suspect Nabbed After 25-Year-Old Struck At Patchogue Intersection Police are investigating a pre-dawn hit-and-run crash at a Long Island intersection that left one person dead. It happened around 4 a.m. Sunday, March 12 in Patchogue. A 25-year-old man was crossing Medford Avenue at Oak Street when he was struck by a southbound white sedan traveling on Medford Avenue, Suffolk County Police said. Approximately one minute later, the man was struck by a gray Nissan Armada.  Both drivers fled the scene. The man, identified as Nich…

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by Joe Lombardi
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Driver Rescued After Ending Up In Water Off Long Island Driver Rescued After Ending Up In Water Off Long Island
Driver Rescued After Ending Up In Water Off Long Island A police officer is being praised for his quick actions in saving a driver who ended up in the water off Long Island. The incident happened Monday afternoon, March 6, in Patchogue near Sunset Lane and River Avenue. A man suffering a medical episode drove his pickup truck into Patchogue Bay, just west of the Sandspit Marina, according to Suffolk County Police. Daniel Elitharp, an officer with the department, responded and saw the driver slumped over in his car. “Without hesitation” Elitharp jumped into the water and rescued the victim, police said. The driver was transported to Long Isla…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Woman Seriously Injured After Car Slams Into Sign, Overturns On Sunrise Highway In Manorville Woman Seriously Injured After Car Slams Into Sign, Overturns On Sunrise Highway In Manorville
Woman Seriously Injured After Car Slams Into Sign, Overturns On Sunrise Highway In Manorville A woman suffered serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash on a busy Long Island roadway. The woman was driving on the Sunrise Highway (Route 27), west of Wading River Road in Manorville when she apparently lost control of the vehicle which left the roadway. around 3:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, Suffolk County Police said. The vehicle, a 2012 Hyundai Sonata in the right lane on the westbound side, struck a sign and overturned. The woman, a 46-year-old Manorville resident, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries. Her passenger, a 53-ye…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
‘Driven By Greed’: Jury Convicts Man For Home Invasion Murder On Long Island ‘Driven By Greed’: Jury Convicts Man For Home Invasion Murder On Long Island
‘Driven By Greed’: Jury Convicts Man For Home Invasion Murder On Long Island More than four years after a 30-year-old man was stabbed to death during a home invasion on Long Island, a jury has convicted his killer. Ade N’Gaii, age 39, of Harlem, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Kristopher Appel in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Feb. 24. Prosecutors said N’Gaii and three others first drove to Appel’s home in Patchogue armed with a handgun in October 2018 to steal money and marijuana. However, they were unable to physically break into his house. The group returned to Appel’s home on Nov. 2, 2018 while disguised as construction workers, ac…

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by Michael Mashburn