Forklift-Driving Vandals Wreck Equipment At LI Amphitheater: Cops

FARMINGVILLE, NY — Several pieces of equipment and the grounds of the Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater at Bald Hill, a popular Brookhaven concert facility in Farmingville, were damaged overnight Saturday, according to the property managing company Long Island Events. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the five alleged vandals, though one was charged Monday morning, the Suffolk County Police Department said.

Steven Eiene, 18, of Shirley, was charged with second-degree criminal mischief for using a forklift to damage a refrigerated trailer and a light pole minutes before 2 a.m. Saturday. He was scheduled to appear Monday in 1st District Court in Central Islip.

A large refrigeration unit, forklift, many light poles and pieces of outdoor furniture were destroyed and damaged, according to Long Island Events. The vandals seized a forklift on-site and used it to drive into and wreck equipment at the facility, Long Island Events said. Their actions were caught on surveillance cameras. The vandals can be seen laughing and filming on their cell phones, and the tape also captures the car they used to drive onto the property, according to Long Island Events.

John Caracciolo, president of Long Island Events, said the physical damage is estimated to be thousands of dollars.

"But the emotional damage is beyond numbers," he said in a statement. "Right now, I am struggling to keep all of our staff employed and to find other tasks our event company can do during this time of complete shutdown. It is just mind blowing to me that at a time like this people can be so hurtful and destructive to a local business. We are all going through very trying times and this is beyond comprehension how this group of thugs thinks this is funny while defying the community quarantine."

Video credit: Long Island Events

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Thomas Daley of the Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct at 631-854-8645.