$8000 Liquor Theft Thwarted
Two men who police say tried to rip off Bottle Hampton on County Road 39 for $8000 worth of liquor were arrested on felony charges Saturday.
According to the Southampton Town police Lt. Susan Ralph, her department received a call at about 3:15 PM from the store May 9 the duo was trying to purchase several cases of liquor using a stolen credit card. The men arrived at the store’s parking in lot separate cars, one in a 2020 Mercedes Benz. The make and model of the other car is not known.
When police arrived, the two fled in their vehicles, police said. The unidentified car was pursued, according to the charges, and crashed in Southampton. The driver of that car, Malik Fletcher, 24, of Tuckahoe, and a passenger fled on foot, police said. Ralph, uncertain of the location of the crash, had not yet received the accident report.
Southampton Village police supplied a K-9 search team, according to the lieutenant, and the two were soon caught.
Fletcher was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and two misdemeanors for allegedly leaving the scene of of an accident and unlawfully fleeing police. Fletcher’s passenger, not charged, was released after being questioned.
A New York state trooper ran the license plate of the Mercedes and came up with a possible address in Sag Harbor Village. Village police assisted Southampton, according to Sag Harbor Chief Austin McGuire, and the Mercedes was found at the location. Desmon Walker, 23, of Tuckahoe, was charged with the same grand larceny felony as Fletcher. A female was questioned and released.
The Mercedes was impounded by police, who were required to release the men after processing them. They were issued desk appearance tickets, requiring them to be arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court at a future date.
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