Police Arrest Man With Handgun At Meschutt Beach

Update, June 2, 12:30 PM: Paul Zieser, who police said barricaded himself within his vehicle for three hours at Meschutt Beach in Hampton Bays Monday, has been formally charged.

Charges filed against him include two counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. During an altercation earlier, Zieser damaged the property of a juvenile by taking his school laptop and throwing it in a pool. He then then left the area and police found him at the beach, which led to a three-hour standoff.

Originally, June 1, 6:30 PM: Today, at approximately 1:30 PM, Town of Southampton police responded to a call of a subject with a handgun at Meschutt Beach in Hampton Bays.

Southampton Town patrol officers, members of the Detective Division, an emergency services unit, Southampton Town bay constables, New York State police, state K9s, an East Hampton emergency service unit, and the U. S. Coast Guard responded to the scene where police say Paul Zieser, 51, of Hampton Bays, barricaded himself. All involved units ensured area residents, beachgoers, and boaters remained a safe distance away from the area so the incident could come to a peaceful resolution.

The scene was not fully under control until approximately 4:51 PM, when police arrested Zieser, who will face several charges, Southampton police said, to be specified at a later time.

desiree@indyeastend.com