Teen arrested following fight at Smith Haven Mall where a weapon was found, Suffolk police say

Suffolk County police arrested an East Patchogue teenager for criminal possession of a firearm Friday night following an altercation at the Smith Haven Mall.

Police found a handgun at the scene and an investigation led to the arrest of an 18-year-old, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Saturday morning in First District Court in Central Islip, online court records show.

Judge Bernard Cheng set bail at $5,000 cash, $25,000 insured bond or $50,000 partially secured surety bond, the records show.

The top charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, indicates the handgun was loaded. The defendant is due back in court Dec. 5.

Police did not disclose additional information about what led to the altercation or how many people were involved. Police were notified at 7:18 p.m. of the clash and there were no reports of injuries.

The altercation happened as the mall was crowded with Black Friday shoppers. 

An hour after the incident, police and mall security personnel were stationed near the Lids and Kay Jewelers stores across from a fully packed food court. Patrons were leaving with shopping bags as groups of friends and families sat around tables eating and chatting.

The mall also was the scene of an altercation last Saturday in which a 16-year-old boy was stabbed after he tried to intervene in a dispute between several people, police said. That incident took place near the food court.

The boy was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

With Nicholas Grasso

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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