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Weird News of Week: ATV Chase, Rental Mess and One Rogue Peacock

Some stories are downright strange. Here's our wrap-up from around Northern Suffolk and the East End.

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to inspiring tales of community brotherhood. But some stories are just plain weird. Here are some of the stranger headlines from the past seven days.

ATV vs. Cops in All-Terrain Chase

Police in Southold were led on a high-speed chase this week when a man driving an all-terrain vehicle refused to stop and instead took off into the woods ... that is, after he let his girlfriend get off the vehicle first.

Though the vehicle was able to shake the cops on pursuit, police responded with a K-9 unit and found the woman hiding in the woods. But then another officer patrolling the area reportedly saw the ATV being loaded into the bed of a pickup truck. The man admitted to being the one who led them on the chase and was arrested.

You Want Me to Rent This?

An employee of Hertz told police that four rental cars parked at the East Hampton Airport in Wainscott had blue cleaner/detergent, syrup, eggs, and baking flour thrown at them overnight on Aug. 9. There was no lasting damage reported to the three 2012 Chevrolets and one 2012 Nissan, but a criminal mischief affidavit was signed.

Locals in Riverhead have gotten used to a new visitor in town, one whose beautiful plumage almost makes up for the all the poop it's been leaving in the streets.

The peacock has become a welcomed guest at Duck Pond Estates, where residents have spotted the animal since it first showed up a month ago. So far, nobody knows where the animal came from.

In fact, several residents have fed the bird, which believe it or not is well suited to living in this kind of climate zone.

Not all are peacock fans, though.

"At first it was fascinating and very cool but he poops everywhere," one resident, who asked not to be identified, told Patch. "We've stepped in it, and my husband is power washing every day. It's frustrating. My 3-year-old is not a fan."

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Home Town Native August 26, 2012 at 06:28 pm
Multiple units? K-9 units? For a guy on an ATV? We need to pay people $200,000.00 a year to do this when there is so much real crime on Long Island?
How about the drugs? gangs? Its easy to see if you're not sitting in a Firehouse parking lot or taking multiple units to chase people for illegally riding an ATV or dirt bike. Priorities anyone?
allen smith August 27, 2012 at 12:14 pm
My nephew has muscular dystrophy he is 14 he use to ride quad down street to friends as this was only way he could get down there he cant pedal bike due to the muscle loss in his legs he was very responsable driving it not speeding we live on a dead end street . Well suffolks finest came down street one day an didnt want to here that he was hadicapped next time we come down we will confiscate it . Were are the police dept priorities
Bryan Rivera August 27, 2012 at 01:05 pm
Hey, it's just good to see there's a precinct on LI that recognizes that riding ATV's here isn't legal. Send some of those units over to 112 south of Uncle Giuseppe's where it sounds like a goddamn motocross rally every day.
John Gruber August 27, 2012 at 02:37 pm
not really. there's no need to send k-9's after someone riding an ATV. complete waste of time and manpower. they can't do anything about the drug problem so they just find someone else to arrest and call it a day.
Algebra August 27, 2012 at 03:55 pm
Key words being "next time" And by the way "here"
is a place, hEAR is what tyou do with your EAR.
Algebra August 27, 2012 at 03:56 pm
Any of you genius's realize this happened in Southold? Not much in the way of gangs there for one, and for another, one can assume the driver of the ATV did not have anyones permission to be riding where he was.
Bryan Rivera August 27, 2012 at 04:25 pm
When insulting another person's intellect, it's a very good idea to use proper grammar. The plural of genius is geniuses.
I for one, don't care about Southold since I live in PJ Station. I just take every opportunity available to point out that my neighbors and I can't get SCPD to show up and stop people from riding ATV's around our homes every single day.
Algebra August 27, 2012 at 04:35 pm
Really not too concerned as to what is going on in PJ Station, dude. The first line of the story says it happened in Southold. Way outside Suffolk County Police District, it is a Town Police Department, not a precinct.
Engineer August 27, 2012 at 04:38 pm
Or he could take a legal electric scooter, a Segway, or have someone drive him. Holy grammatical errors, Batman.
John Gruber August 27, 2012 at 04:42 pm
he didn't have permission? good god! send in the swat team!
Algebra August 27, 2012 at 04:43 pm
So I can ride my ATV in your yard as long as I ddon't smoke a joint?
K. August 27, 2012 at 05:02 pm
Isn't there a LEGAL way for your nephew to transport himself or be transported? Why endanger himself and others by driving an ATV?
Gail Simons August 27, 2012 at 05:23 pm
Keeps kids out of bigger trouble, IMO. I'd rather see them riding than joining gangs. Be careful what you wish for. And "high speed chase"? Really??? Through the woods? A little overly dramatic.
Robc1940 August 27, 2012 at 06:41 pm
A lot of times people running from small crimes are involved in larger ones. That was the philosophy on how the NYPD began to clean up times square. They went after subway turnstile jumpers, a minor crime...... however these are the people committing assaults, burglary, rapes etc.... Granted in this case, there were no additional charges but next time they could catch the Gilgo Beach murderer LOL
Jim August 27, 2012 at 06:46 pm
I'd rather them be riding. Being bored equals trouble. Sending K-9 is a little much but ive heard of cops faking like they are having ATV problems and call other riders over and then get there clutches zip tied and takin. Teachs you you cant help anyone. Some people know good spots to ride and others take advantage of trails closer to houses which ruins it for everyone.
Bryan Rivera August 27, 2012 at 08:18 pm
Jim/Gail, riding does not keep kids out of trouble. First off, it's not legal to ride them here. So they're immediately breaking the law, aka, causing trouble. Second, they are absurdly loud and obnoxious for anyone who isn't enjoying speeding down a trail.
jeremiah bullfrog August 27, 2012 at 08:20 pm
If there was a legal trail system for atv riders on L.I., maybe there would be less illegal use of them. I was a member of a club that rented private land to ride on, we were closed down. Paid registration fees for establishing traisl on L.i.-robbed of money, got not even 1 trail! No atv's in pine barrens because of fragile environment-B.S.. Its ok to put up homes though. Its also patrolled by atv's. We pay hi taxes to not use or woodlands or beaches, I would run too. Take away more family activites, plop down the kids in front of the xbox, and wonder why they end up on drugs. You reap what you sew
Algebra August 28, 2012 at 01:18 am
Well I want to be a farmer, but I only own a 1/4 acre of land. So who is going to allow me to entertain myself as a farmer and provide me with the land? Seriously, if you want to ride an atv in the wooods, go somewhere and BUY the land and do it. No one owes you a damn thing like that. Where do you think it is governments jobs to entertain you? You are probably a responsible rider, but you very well know that given the chance someone will screw it up for everyone else, get hurt and bring a suit against the appropriate municipality.
Bryan Rivera August 28, 2012 at 01:19 pm
Case in point, earlier this summer the riders by my house set the woods on fire. Whether on purpose or not, they endangered the lives and homes of all who live there. If riding ATVs is what you do for fun, maybe you should go live somewhere that allows riding ATVs for fun. I wouldn't move to Nebraska and blame the local government that there's nowhere for me to use my boat.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Mike Vetrano June 19, 2013 at 08:18 am
What ever it is it should be built on the other side next to Ciao Baby, less traffic and lessRead More confusion there!
knee jerk June 11, 2013 at 01:56 pm
Joe: I don't think they will give you any contact info just in case you turn out to be some sort ofRead More kook or stalker. How would you like to be responsible for that security breach?
CommackHack June 17, 2013 at 11:43 am
i believe the best way to locate your teacher is through the commack teachers association (cta).Read More contact the union president, tris stewart, and write a short note. include all the contact information you're comfortable with and wait a bit? 33 years is a long time. good luck.
Joe Krol June 17, 2013 at 07:51 pm
Thank you!