Contractor Took Payment, Left Stony Brook Renovation Unfinished: Police
A Long Island contractor was arrested after police say he accepted payment for home renovations but stopped work before the project was finished, leaving a Stony Brook homeowner without the services she paid for, Suffolk County Police said in a release issued Monday, July 20.
The woman hired M3 Development Group Inc. on Jan. 8, 2026, to complete improvements to her Stony Brook home, police said. The contractor, identified as Michael Specchio, completed only part of the renovations before abandoning the job, according to investigators.
Sixth Squad detectives arrested Specchio, 48, of East I…
Passenger Jumps Into Driver's Seat, Dies After Crashing With Child Inside In Mantua: Prosecutor
A 41-year-old backseat passenger of a vehicle died after jumping into the front seat of the car, taking off, and then crashing with a 5-year-old still inside the car in South Jersey on Sunday, July 19, authorities said.
At 11:57 p.m., Mantua Township police stopped a vehicle for a traffic offense on southbound Route 55, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said.
While one officer was speaking with the driver outside the vehicle, another officer ordered the passenger, Holly Hageman, 41, to get out of the vehicle, authorities said. Instead, Hageman climbed into the driver's seat and…
Wethersfield Woman, 31, Sexually Coerced Long Island 13-Year-Old She Met Online: Feds
A Connecticut woman is accused of grooming a 13-year-old New York boy on Discord before driving him to her home and attempting to sexually abuse him, federal authorities said.
Amily Colon, 31, of Wethersfield, was arrested Friday, July 17, on a federal criminal complaint charging her with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to the US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
Colon allegedly used the name "Alice" when she started an online relationship with the 13-year-old boy from New York, according to cou…
Would-Be West Babylon Child Predator Finds Undercover Cops Waiting Online: Police
Two men attempting to meet underage girls for sex have been arrested in New York, according to state police.
Edwin Antonio Sabillon Jr., 24, of West Babylon, NY, and Anik Conley-Das, 36 of Norwood, MA, were busted in an undercover operation, New York State Police said.
The two men were “attempting to sexually exploit children online” but instead interacted with undercover officers based in state police barracks on Long Island, authorities said.
Sabillon and Conley-Das were both charged with second-degree rape, attempted child endangerment, and attempted sharing indecent materials with a mi…
Ex-GF's New BF Opened Fire In North Arlington Double Homicide, Family Alleges: Report
A father of two who was killed in a double shooting in North Arlington on Sunday night, July 19, had gone to pick up his children when a confrontation with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend turned deadly, ABC7 Eyewitness News reports.
UPDATE: Brian Dominick Lockett, 28, of North Arlington, NJ, and Ezequiel Aquino, 29, of Newark, were identified as the victims by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. A GoFundMe campaign says they were cousins. A separate GoFundMe was launched by Aquino's mother, who sources say buried her other son, Uriel Aquino, four years ago due to an alleged overdos…
Ex-Felon Motorcycle Rider Busted With Illegal Gun In Guilderland: Police
A New York man with a felony conviction has been arrested again for possessing a loaded handgun, police said.
Kevin Phillips, 45, of Schenectady, was riding his motorcycle southbound through Guilderland on the New York State Thruway on Thursday, July 16, when he was stopped for a traffic violation, New York State Police said.
During the stop, troopers learned Phillips was in possession of a loaded handgun, according to authorities. They investigated further and discovered Phillips had a prior felony conviction, making it illegal for him to have the gun, according to state police.
Phillips …
Police Impersonation, Strangulation Lands Nassau County Man Under Arrest In New Canaan — Again
A New York man who was arrested twice in Connecticut last month is back in custody after police said he was wanted on new charges tied to a vicious domestic incident.
Christopher Douglas Hassel, 42, of Syosset, New York, was arrested on an active warrant by the New Canaan Police Department earlier this month, authorities said.
Hassel is charged with third-degree assault, second-degree assault, second-degree strangulation/suffocation, criminal impersonation, impersonating a police officer, and disorderly conduct. His bond was set at $50,000.
The latest arrest comes just weeks after Ha…
Wallingford School PTO Treasurer Stole $22K From Elementary School Group, Police Say
A former Connecticut elementary school PTO treasurer is accused of stealing about $22,000 from the organization that supports local students and teachers.
Erica L. Vitale, 39, of Wallingford, was arrested Friday, July 17, according to police. She served as treasurer for the Highland Elementary School PTO and had full access to the group's funds.
The PTO claims $22,000 is missing from their accounts, and Vitale cannot account for it, police explained.
Vitale is charged with first-degree larceny and fraudulent use of an automated teller machine, Wallingford police said. She …
0.2-bac Hauppauge Driver Sentenced For Crash That Killed Nassau Police Officer: Authorities
A Long Island drunk driver was sentenced Monday, July 20 for a crash that killed a police officer earlier this year, authorities said.
Matthew Smith, 21, got between seven years, four months and 22 years in prison, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said. Smith’s sentence was negotiated as part of a plea deal in June.
Smith, of Hauppauge, was driving 70 mph in a 30 mph zone when he sped through a red light and slammed into a vehicle driven by Patricia Espinosa around 6 a.m. on Jan. 31, according to authorities.
Espinosa, a 42-year-old Nassau County Police Officer, was on her way…
Person Unresponsive Following Rideshare Crash: Bridgeton PD
A person was found unconscious following a crash in Bridgeton Sunday morning, June 19, authorities said.
At 3:47 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of West Brigantine Avenue after a vehicle traveling northbound left the lane of travel and crashed into a parked vehicle, Brigantine police said.
Police found a passenger who was unconscious and unresponsive, officers said. Lifesaving measures were initiated and he was transported to a nearby hospital, police said.
The driver, who was operating a rideshare vehicle, was not injured, police said. The crash remains under investigation, poli…
Man Dies After Pulled From Water In Jersey Shore: Beach Patrol
A man died after he pulled from the water in Sea Isle City on Friday, July 17, authorities said.
At 4 p.m., authorities were alerted to a man going under the water, the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol said. The lifeguards were able to locate a submerged man and bring him to shore, authorities said. Life saving measures were initiated by the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, Police, Emergency Medical Services and paramedics, authorities said.
The man, who has not been identified, was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
Two Children Killed In Bayville Boat Crash: Report
A 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy were killed in a boat crash in Bayville Sunday, July 19, authorities said.
At 9:09 p.m., Tidewater Custom 280, a 30-foot vessel, struck an Intercoastal Waterway channel marker, causing the two kids to be ejected into the water, Charles Marchan, a spokesman for New Jersey State Police said.
Two other occupants located the kids in the water, Marchan said. They were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were pronounced dead, Marchan said.
The crash remains under investigation, police said.
