Teen Stopped With Big Stash

A 19-year-old from Bay Shore was slapped with drug charges on Saturday, September 8, after he was pulled over for changing lanes unsafely on Springville Road in Hampton Bays, Southampton Town Police said.

When an officer stopped Brian Maher at about 2:33 AM, the smell of marijuana was wafting from his car and further investigation found more than two ounces of the leafy illicit substance in a bag inside the center console, as well as a cigarette, packing materials, and a “large amount of cash,” police said. Two concentrated marijuana vape pen cartridges were also allegedly found inside Maher’s car. Maher was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a marijuana and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors. He was released on a field appearance ticket returnable to Southampton Town Justice Court at a later date, according to police.

A 28-year-old Commack man also was arrested under similar circumstances on Monday, September 3, on Foster Avenue in Hampton Bays. Police said that at about 6:15 PM, Ryan Oguzturk was stopped due to the smell of marijuana “emanating” from the car, and he admitted to having the drug in the back seat. A search by the officer not only produced a jar of the drug, but a joint, some codeine pills, cannabis edibles, and a concentrated cannabis vape pen, police said.

Oguzturk, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was hit with misdemeanor charges of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, as well as two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. A second person, whose name was not available, was inside the car at the time of Oguzturk’s arrest and both “claimed ownership” of different items in the car, leading to both of their arrests. Both were held for arraignment, police said.

In addition to the drug bust, police also logged in two arrests for felony DWI — cases in which both drivers had previous convictions within the last 10 years, one of whom had an open container of alcohol in the car with him, police said. Nicholas Sac-Pelicans, 23, of Riverhead was pulled over in Hampton Bays on Monday, September 3, at about 5:44 PM for failing to stop at a stop sign. Sac-Pelicans, who does not have a valid driver’s license, was caught with an open container in his car and was additionally cited for drinking alcohol in a car on the highway.

Karen Ham, 51, of Sag Harbor was arrested on Tuesday, September 4, at about 8 PM in front of Warren’s Nursery in Water Mill. Police said they received a 911 call from a motorist stating that her car was hit by a black Mercedes swerving on Montauk Highway. When an officer arrived, Ham, who has been previously convicted of DWI, was outside of the car and found to be under the influence, according to police.

In another incident, police arrested a 30-year-old Westhampton Beach man after he was found on a deck inside the backyard of a residence on Meetinghouse Road in Quiogue at about 9 PM on Wednesday, September 5. Erick Quisquina Perez was charged with third-degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor.

Robert Weis, a 25-year-old homeless man from Hampton Bays, was arrested for second-degree criminal contempt, a misdemeanor, on Sunday, September 9, at about 3:30 PM at King Kullen in Hampton Bays. Police said they were called to the location and saw Weis walking away and then, upon questioning him, discovered he also had an active bench warrant issued by Riverhead Town Police. No further details were released by police.

In another grocery store arrest just down the road, Zofia Olszowski, 72, of Eastport was arrested for shoplifting at Wild by Nature in Hampton Bays just before 7:30 PM on Sunday, September 9. She was charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor.

peggy@indyeastend.com