Community Corner

Crimes Nearby: Former Basketball Star Back Behind Bars

The following information was supplied by police departments on the East End. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does not indicate guilt.

• Michael E. Russell, a former star point guard for the East Hampton High Schoolbasketball team who has been in and out of trouble over the past five years, , where he was attending college.

Russell, 22, entered an apartment with two other masked men — one of the three men reportedly had a gun, according to Worcester police. They demanded money from four Worcester Polytechnic Institute students, some of whom they ordered to get to the floor while others were moved elsewhere in the apartment, at about 1:20 a.m., police said.

Police said one victim fought back, struggling with one of the suspects, and pulled down his mask. That's when the suspects reportedly fled in a vehicle.

• Robert C. Czaplinski, 25, of Southampton, was arrested in East Hampton Village, after allegedly fleeing from police during a traffic stop while driving under the influence of drugs on Jan. 27.

Village police said they saw a 1994 BMW going north on Main Street, near Newtown Lane, without headlights on at about 2 a.m. Police said the driver tried to evade them, despite lights and sirens being on. He continued traveling east on Pantigo Road, and when he entered Amagansett's Main Street, he was travelling about 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, according to police. He also swerved over the double yellow lines several times, police said.

By the time he reached the Napeague Stretch, he was traveling 90 mph, police said. He begun crossing over onto the shoulder, changing speeds from 60 to 20 mph, they said. He eventually came to a stop. East Hampton Town police were also on scene.

RIVERHEAD

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

• A 21-year old Flanders man died after he was shot in the chest on Sunday morning.

Demitri Hampton, was reportedly shot in the chest by two armed men who entered his home at 200 Priscilla Ave., according to Suffolk County police, who were alerted after they received a 911 call at about 3:15 a.m. Hampton was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead where he was pronounced dead.

Suffolk County police homicide detectives are investigating. As of Wednesday evening, no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

• Several Dumpster fires were reported in Riverhead between Saturday and Tuesday.

According to Riverhead police, a call was received on Tuesday at 6:34 a.m. about two fires, located in Dumpsters at the east and north sides of the Eastern Harley Davidson buiding on Route 58. The fires were extinguished by the Riverhead Fire Department, police said.

Tuesday's Dumpster fires follow five in Riverhead since Saturday, including a fire in a trash compactor behind T.J. Maxx on Route 58 on Saturday. Police and the Riverhead Town Fire Marshal's office are investigating the incidents.

Similar Dumpster fires have also been reported in Westhampton Beach and Hampton Bays.

SOUTHAMPTON

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

• Southampton Town police said that sometime on Jan. 25 in Sag Harbor, an unknown person broke the glass on a victim's front door with a hand or fist and entered the residence.

The suspect allegedly went through the complainant's cabinets and refrigerator, filling a canvas sack belonging to the victim with food and liquor. The suspect, police said, then left the residence via a back sliding door and walked next door to an unoccupied neighbor's residence, where the sack with the stolen food and liquor was left. Police said the theory is that the suspect may have been spooked by the homeowner's return.

The items stolen were a bottle each of Percocet and Vicodin, police said. A New York State K-9 unit was summoned to the scene; a positive trail was found out to Main Street and Stony Hill, where the trail went cold. Blood and the bag of evidence was found at the scene.

NORTH FORK

• A Southold Town Police K9 unit was called to the scene of a reported gun threat incident at Mr. Roberts Convenience Store in Greenport on Jan. 23 at 9:43 p.m., Police Chief Martin Flatley confirmed last week.

The K9 unit searched the area and did find a pellet gun, but the weapon could not be tied to a specific person’s possession, the chief said.

“It ended up that the victim could not substantiate a charge,” Flatley said.

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