Man With Handgun At Beach Charged With Endangering Child: Cops

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A man arrested after a tense standoff during which he barricaded himself in his vehicle with a handgun at a Hamptons beach has been charged, police said.

According to Southampton Town Police, the incident took place Monday at 1:30 p.m. when Paul Zeiser, 51, of Hampton Bays, was reported in his vehicle with the handgun at Meschutt Beach in Hampton Bays.

More than three hours later, at 4:51 p.m., Zieser, 51, was arrested and charged with two counts of third degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

Zeiser, during an earlier altercation, damaged the property of a juvenile by taking his school laptop and throwing it in a pool, police said. Zeiser then left the area and was found at Meschutt Beach, resulting in the three-hour standoff with police, authorities said.

Southampton police patrol officers, detectives, the emergency services unit and bay constables, as well as New York State Police and K-9 units, East Hampton's emergency services unit, and the United State Coast Guard all responded and ensured residents, beachgoers, and boaters remained a safe distance away from the area so the incident could come to a peaceful resolution, authorities said.