Southold teen bicyclist arrested after 'causing a traffic hazard,' cops say

A Southold teen was arrested Monday night, charged with disorderly conduct, after police said he rode a bicycle on Route 25 in Laurel and impeded traffic before crashing onto the pavement.

Southold Town police said David Santoscua, 17, now faces arraignment on the misdemeanor charge in Southold Town Justice Court. Arraignment details were not available.

Police said Officer Richard Jernick responded at about 7:30 p.m. to a call reporting a bicyclist in the roadway "causing a traffic hazard" and saw Santoscua, riding a girl's bike, impeding traffic on eastbound Route 25.

In an account of the incident Tuesday, police said: "Before Officer Jernick could stop the defendant, the defendant rode his bicycle to the side of the roadway where he lost control and fell off of the bicycle onto the pavement."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”