Crime & Safety
Cops: Burglar Choked, Punched, Tried To Suffocate Woman
The defendant had an immigration detainer placed on him by the Department of Homeland Security's ICE unit, police said.
Police arrested a man who broke into a relative's room Thursday and punched, choked and tried to suffocate her in a Riverhead home, authorities said.
According to Riverhead Town police, officers responded to reports of a burglary taking place on Gregory Place early Thursday morning. The residence, police said, has several tenants, who are all related and renting rooms in the house.
Police arrested Nelson Chamale-Suruy, 32. of Riverhead, after authorities said he broke into a woman's locked room during the early morning hours, punched her in the face repeatedly, choked her, and put a pillow over her face, trying to suffocate her.
Chamale-Suruy, police said, fled the scene; he was arrested later in the day when confronted by family members and police were notified, according to authorities.
He was charged with burglary in the first degree, a felony, assault in the third degree, a misdemeanor, and two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a misdemeanor.
The victim was transported by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corp to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of facial injuries.
The defendant was processed at Riverhead Town police department and held for arraignment. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security's ICE unit has placed an "immigration detainer" on Chamale-Suruy, police said.
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