Police still seek duo who dumped antifreeze in pine barrens

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and the Central Pine Barrens Commission are continuing to seek help in identifying a man and a woman who dumped barrels of toxic material earlier this year in Manorville.

The two, caught by area surveillance, dumped eight barrels of antifreeze and windshield washer fluid May 20 at 1 p.m. in a wooded area in Manorville, according to a Crime Stoppers release. They then fled in a white Ford F150 with an extended cab.

At a July news conference, Central Pine Barrens Commission executive director John Pavacic said the automotive materials are toxic to wildlife and can contain heavy metals that circulate in car engines.

If the materials leak into the ground and penetrate the soil, they could also contaminate the county’s sole source of drinking water, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Edward P. Romaine said.

“When chemicals and other contaminants are dumped . . . they affect our water supply,” Romaine said. “And water is not stagnant. Underground water travels either to the bay or to the Sound and it affects whole plumes that cover miles and miles.”

A cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers, anonymously, by calling 800-220-TIPS, texting “SCPD” and your message to “CRIMES” (274637) or by email at tipsubmit.com. 

Calls, text messages and emails will be confidential, the release said.