Police Blotter: Town of Southampton

The Southampton Town Bay Constables responded to a call for help from a 40-foot yacht foundering by the tidal gates at the Shinnecock Locks. At the request of the distressed vessel’s captain the female passengers were rescued from the boat and transported from harm’s way.

On August 3, at approximately 8:30 p.m. the captain of the 40-foot Atlantis-style motor yacht radioed for assistance over VHF channel 16 reporting that he had ten passengers and had lost engine power. His boat was being pinned against the tide gates during the open cycle of the locks.

Bay Constables Mark Ruocco and Al Tuzzolo responded to the distress call and made contact with the captain of the Atlantis yacht. They learned that due to engine failure, the captain had lost the ability to steer his boat. The captain requested that the Bay Constables take the female passengers to safety while he awaited commercial assistance.

Tuzzolo and Ruocco safely rescued the female passengers despite a strong current and brought them to a local marina. They then returned to the disabled yacht and stayed nearby, monitoring their safety, until a commercial tow boat arrived.

The yacht was safely towed back to its berth. No injuries were reported and the locks were reopened to traffic at approximately 9:30 p.m.

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The Southampton Town Police arrested a Flanders man for driving drunk while heading west in the eastbound lane on the Montauk Highway.

On August 3, at approximately 9:20 p.m. Rudy Hernandez-Punai, 24, was stopped in the Hamlet of Hampton Bays by police after being observed to be driving in the wrong lane. He was found to be drunk, to have an open container of alcohol in the car and to be driving without a license.

Punai was arrested, taken to police headquarters, processed and held for morning arraignment.