Teen Reports Abduction

Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives are investigating a report by a 15-year-old girl who stated that a man grabbed her and forced her into a truck and requested sexual acts.

The victim said that she was walking south on Chapman Boulevard, north of Hot Water Street in Manorville at approximately 4:20 p.m. on September 21 when the truck, a red four-door pickup stopped next to her. A man in the backseat of the truck grabbed her by the back of her sweatshirt and forced her into the vehicle, where he restrained her and threatened her with a knife. The man made sexual advances and requested sexual acts from the victim.

The 15-year-old states that she was driven around for awhile before being pushed out of the truck by Sunrise Highway and Eastport Manor Road. The victim, who was unharmed, contacted her parents and police were notified.

The man in the backseat is described as white, in his late 20s to early 30s with short dark hair and a slim build. The driver is described as having dark hair and wearing a long sleeve black shirt.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the suspects or the vehicle to contact the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

No More Cheap Cigs

via Newsday:

In a decision that could put a significant crimp in untaxed cigarette sales from the Poospatuck tribe's reservation in Mastic, a federal judge has granted New York City's request for an injunction against sales to non-Indians.

U.S. District Judge Carol Amon, following a four-day hearing in May, found that sales from reservation smoke shops, fueled a massive bootlegging trade of cheap smokes in New York City that deprived the city of tax revenue and reduced the effectiveness of anti-smoking programs.

Although untaxed sales to tribal members for their personal use are legal, Amon said the privately run smoke shops named in the suit had abused the privilege - with bulk sales of massive quantities, and efforts to help buyers evade police.

"Defendants' principal business model is to provide customers with the opportunity to purchase cigarettes at significantly reduced prices, without paying taxes," Amon wrote in the decision, issued Tuesday.

New York City, in its lawsuit filed in 2008, alleged that reservation smoke shops had sold 24 million cartons since 2004 - more than 19,000 a day for the 300 residents of the 55-acre reservation - depriving the city of $195 million and the state of $525 million in taxes.

Earlier in the case, Amon rejected an argument that the smoke shops and their owners, which are licensed by the Unkechaug tribe, could not be sued because they are part of a sovereign nation.

The injunction covers five smoke shops and nine individuals. Other defendants settled earlier in the case. Amon stayed the injunction for 30 days to give the defendants a chance to appeal.

The city law department said it would be issuing a statement on the decision later Wednesday. The lawyer who led the defense for the smoke shops could not be reached immediately for comment.

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I don't know how I feel about this. I understand the need to crack down on people selling bootleg smokes in the city. That's a lot of revenue lost. But at the same time that's a problem between the state and the bootleggers. The reservation should be able to sell to whomever they wish. And I'm not even a smoker!

I've Got Crabs

Mark your calendars crab lovers! It's the 5th Annual Blue Claw Crab Festival and it will be held on August 23rd (this Sunday) at Marina 1 in Mastic Beach (take Whittier Dr until you hit water) It's being thrown by the "oh-so-popular-that-everyone-just-loves-'em-like-a-fat-kid-loves-cake" MBPOA.

Performing on the show mobile will be the Cascades, Stan Ziska’s Tangerines, Southern Heart, Kountry Kickers, and the Silver Slippers (can you smell the alliteration?).

Enjoy fresh-boiled crabs and crab cakes along with local seafood, arts and crafts and music from 10AM to 6PM. If you're not into crabs don't worry, there's all types of yummy artery-clogging food to whet your palette!

For more information visit their website or call 395-5432.

Pit Bulls Found Dead In Manorville

Sad.

(via Newsday)

Suffolk Police found four dead pit bulls in the woods near North Street in Manorville Sunday afternoon, though it is unclear how, when or where they died, officials said.

Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross said the two male and two female dogs were "badly decomposed" when found, and one likely suffered a broken neck.

"I definitely suspect foul play," Gross said. "They didn't just walk in the woods and die together."

It is unknown if the dogs died in the woods or where killed elsewhere and dumped there, Gross said. A necropsy - an autopsy for animals - is planned for Monday to determine a cause of death, he said.

Police came to the scene at 3:30 p.m., after a passing bicyclist complained of a foul odor emanating from the woods. Gross said he could not tell if the dogs had been in dogfights, nor was it clear how old the animals were.

The SPCA has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call 631-382-7722.

Spring Fair This Saturday

SPRING FAIR THIS SATURDAY, MAY 23RD!
At the Pathmark Shopping Center. Have a great day with your family and friends.

Fair starts at 11:00AM!

FREE games for the kids: bean bag toss, ring toss, balloon pop, face painting, tattoos and Balloon Bob making balloon animals and sculptures.

Live Band. Dunk Tank (Kate Browning accepted an invitation to the fair ... maybe she'll get in the dunk tank?). Chinese Auction. Raffles. Food (wraps, lattes for you elitists, funnel cakes, corn patties, sausage and peppers, burgers and hot dogs, kettle corn).

Great vendors (Shamwow, Mary Kay, Party Lite, Dragon Lizards, Sunglasses, Hand Bags, Toys, Wind Chimes, Sheets, Baby Clothes, Hair Accessories, Jewelry, Hot Sauce, Sports Cards, Cigars, Gift Baskets, Personalized Gifts) and the list goes on!

Bring your family, friends and neighbors!

Dirt Cheap

Even though gas prices have plummeted in the past year (last year on this date it was over $3.00 for regular), some gas stations are being competitive and dropping their prices even lower than the average, which is at $1.89 in Long Island.

Long Island Gas Prices.com is a great site to visit if you want to know where the cheapest gas is. To no ones surprise, of course, the cheapest gas is at the independent stations. You know, the no-frills ones where you don't pump your own gas. Instead you have a guy with a limp and missing teeth who doesn't speak English asking you "how much my friend?" And it takes you about 20 minutes to explain to him that you don't want $50 regular, you want $15.

"No, no, fifteeeeeeeen"

"Yeah, yeah, fitty. OK"

"No, no. FIFTEEEEN"

You get the idea. Gas has gone up slightly since a couple of weeks ago (where you could find it for less than $1.70) but that shouldn't be too surprising as demand goes up.

Check it out, good site for cheap gas info.

SOUND OFF!!

What do you hate about this area?

What would you do to change it?

We want to hear your thoughts. Your ideas. Don't be afraid to speak up and SOUND OFF!