Top 10 Police Articles in 2011

Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch is counting down to the New Year with several top ten lists. Here's the sixth installment in this series: Top Police Articles in 2011.

1.

In June, police arrested a 54-year-old woman from Manhasset on Aug. 3 after she allegedly slapped her 19-year-old daughter – who police had arrested just moments before for hosting a booze-filled party at the family's Westhampton summer home.

In June, Southampton Police reported that a 28-year-old man was arrested on after allegedly shoving his 27-year-old girlfriend off the Hampton Bays Train Station Platform and onto the rails.

3. Westhampton Beach Grad Dies in Tragic DWI Crash

Only hours after graduating from , celebration turned to grim tragedy and friends were mourning East Quiogue resident Cameron Nicholls, 18, who lost his life in a tragic DWI car crash in June.

4.

Southampton Police are now seeking the public's assistance in identifying a suspect that they believe robbed Matz Riteway Heating and Air Conditioning in November. The man is described as white, 5'8 medium build, late 20s, brown hair, brown eyes, clean shaven and was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and brown work boots.

5.

A missing Sag Harbor teen was found at the , held in September according to police. The 15-year-old girl was reported missing from her home since Sept. 28. said detectives found her in "a healthy condition" and she was reunited with her family.

6.

Southampton Town Police charged a 49-year-old woman from East Quogue with neglecting and imprisoning her children in August, according to documents. Police say they were called to a home on Acorn Path in East Quogue, and found that Debra Coppola was highly intoxicated and had been neglecting her six-year-old and 10-year-old sons. The older son was locked in the basement, though police could not say for how long.

7.

Westhampton Beach Village Police found a 43-year-old man from Westhampton Beach drowned in his swimming pool in June. Lieutenant Trevor Gonce said village police were called to a home on East Bayfield Lane where they found Justin Podolsky of Manhattan performing CPR on Adam Stein, 43.

8.

A 1995 Lexus with South Carolina license plates slammed into on Montauk Highway in Westhampton Beach in October.  The store was closed at the time, according to Sgt. Andrew Ficurilli, of the Southampton Police Department. Ficurilli said both the driver and the passenger, both males, fled on foot. Police  attempted to locate them using a K-9 patrol and helicopter to no avail.

9.

A 19-year-old Hampton Bays man was charged with sexually abusing two women at a home in Hampton Bays in June, allegedly raping one and forcibly touching the other. Ronald Ventriglia was arraigned July 2 on charges of forcible touching, a misdemeanor, and first-degree sexual abuse, a felony. A day later, he was arraigned again, this time for first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree rape, a felony.

10.

A Manhattan man driving an SUV hit a cyclist on Montauk Highway in Quogue in June is facing felony charges. Tabber Benedict, 34, of Manhattan was arrested by   after police say he hit a 44-year-old bicyclist from East Quogue. Police charged Benedict with leaving a motor vehicle accident with serious injuries, a felony, and DWI, a misdemeanor.