Dealer Arrested After Allegedly Peddling Near-Fatal Dose

Riverhead Town police had to revive an unconscious drug user at a Riverhead gas station and Mobil-Mart on November 13 and then arrested the dealer who allegedly sold him the goods, according to a police press release.

The call came in from the station at 1575 Old Country Road. Police ascertained, apparently correctly, that the unconscious man suffered from an opioid overdose and administered Narcan. The man regained consciousness and was rushed to the emergency room.

Suffolk County district attorney’s East End Drug Task Force officers suspected there was a bad batch of the drug going around and “isolated” the suspected dealer, arranging to make a buy by an undercover agent. Police said the ploy worked, and when the dealer showed up to consummate the deal, he was taken into custody.

The dealer was identified as Taahziah Brown, 22, of Bellport, who was initially charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class B felony that carries a sentence of up to nine years in prison, and several lesser charges. He was awaiting arraignment at press time.

On Shelter Island

Thomas Ritzler, 48, was arrested on Monday, November 18, at 5:45 PM by Shelter Island police officers and charged with two counts of second-degree assault, three counts of second-degree strangulation, and one count of criminal mischief.

Police said Ritzler’s arrest was the result of a reported domestic dispute and “conduct over several months prior to the arrest.”

Ritzler, police said, was processed at police headquarters, arraigned at Shelter Island Justice Court, and released on $10,000 cash bail. He was directed to return at a later date.

rmurphy@indyeastend.com