LI CRIME BRIEFS

SOUTHAMPTON/12 facing drug charges

Southampton Town police arrested 12 people on suspicion of drug activity during the weekend at or near two popular beach bars, police said Tuesday.

Two Coram men were arrested about 4:30 p.m. Saturday after they were seen sitting together in a vehicle in the Tiana Beach parking lot next to the Neptune Beach Club in East Quogue. Ryan Oates, 32, and Michael Gibbard, 32, were charged with several felony counts of possession of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs, police said.

Oates was stashing cocaine down the front of his pants as he prepared to enter the Neptune Bar, police said.

Three men were arrested early Saturday in the parking lot of Beach Bar in Hampton Bays after they were seen using cocaine, police said.

Police said Henry Kurz, 27, of Center Moriches, Daniel Pelosi, 25, of East Moriches, and Thomas Banducci, 23, of Manorville, were charged with misdemeanor drug possession.

On Monday, four people sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot at Tiana Beach were arrested on charges of possessing ketamine, Ecstasy and marijuana, said police.

Michael Saladino, 22, of Centereach, was charged with a misdemeanor, police said. Brittany Procida, 23, of Brookhaven, Craig Procida, 35, of Middle Island, and Jessica Guzman, 20, of Ronkonkoma, were charged with felonies, police said. Police did not know if the Procidas were related.

Also Monday, Eduard Khaspabov, 37, of Southampton, was charged with felony drug possession after police say he sold cocaine to an undercover officer in Beach Bar in Hampton Bays.

And two people, John Faber, 22, of Hampton Bays, and Irene Makedon, 21, of Williston Park, were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, in the Tiana Beach parking lot Monday.

-- William Murphy

RIVERHEAD/Women charged in fight

Two women were arrested and charged with second-degree assault after a fight in Riverhead in which two other women were stabbed Monday night, Riverhead police said.

The two victims were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the two suspects were arrested when they went to the medical center for treatment of wounds apparently suffered in the fight.

Shinnequa Dean, 29, of Mastic, and Tanisha Whitley, 27, of Riverhead, were both charged with second-degree assault, police said.

Police identified the victims as Kiesha Moore, 28, of Riverhead, and Shermaine Roberson, 39, of Shirley. Police said both women suffered numerous cuts.

The incident on North Oakland Drive was reported in a 911 call shortly before 9:30 p.m. that reported "a large group fighting," police said. Responding officers found "a large crowd" that "appeared to have been involved in a physical altercation," police said in a statement.

Officers discovered the two victims bleeding from knife wounds, police said. Police said Riverhead Ambulance took the two women to Peconic Bay.

The two women who were arrested arrived later at the hospital via private car, police said. They were arrested after receiving treatment, police said.

The cause of the disturbance was not clear.

-- John Valenti

LINDENHURST/Crash victim dies

A Lindenhurst man seriously injured in a one-car crash early Monday has died, Suffolk County police said Tuesday.

Rafael Rajo, 21, of Lindenhurst, was driving north on Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst about 3:50 a.m. when his vehicle left the road, struck a curb and utility pole and overturned near Maple Drive, police said. He was ejected and sustained severe head injuries, police said.

Rajo was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where police said he died Monday afternoon. Police have not released findings on the cause of the crash. The vehicle was impounded for a safety check, police said.

Police said anyone with information about the accident could call Suffolk County police's First Squad at 631-854-8138.

-- Yamiche Alcindor

BALDWIN/Man robbed of cash, food

A Chinese food deliveryman was stopped Monday evening by three men in Baldwin, one of whom threatened him with a gun, and stole cash and food before fleeing, police said. No one was injured.

The robbery occurred on Lenox Road about 8:15 p.m., Nassau County police said. The gun-toting trio fled south on Short Place.

Police said the 30-year-old deliveryman for Mimi's Kitchen on Grand Avenue was sent to an address on Lenox Road, but was soon approached by the three men.

One carried a black handgun, police said, and pointed it at the deliveryman while a second robber demanded the victim hand over food and cash. The deliveryman handed over his food and $80, police said. The trio then ran off.

Police said anyone with information in the case could call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All calls remain confidential.

-- John Valenti