Retired Southampton cop, detective son catch burglary suspect

A retired Southampton police officer and his detective son teamed up Monday to catch a man suspected of several burglaries in the town, according to police.

At about 3 p.m. Monday, Southampton Town police, including Det. Timothy Wilson, responded to a call about a burglary at a Maple Avenue home. While they were investigating, Wilson’s father, Edward, a retired town officer, alerted his son and the other officers that a “suspicious male” was in a tent in the woods near the targeted home, police said.

“Officers and detectives went to investigate the male subject and he was found to be in possession of proceeds from the burglary,” police said in a release.

The man charged was identified as Santiago Ramierz Giraldo, 19, of Hampton Bays. The release said police believe Giraldo is “responsible for multiple burglaries in the area.”

He was charged with five counts of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree criminal trespass, one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and one count of possession of burglary tools.

Giraldo was expected to be arraigned Wednesday morning.

Edward Wilson served for more than 20 years with the police department; his son is a 14-year veteran.