DA: Investigation Leads To Drug Bust At Auto Repair Shop

An auto repair shop was also doing a brisk drug trade in Riverhead, police said, after the owner of the business was arrested in late August.

Bob Clifford, spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, said Riverhead Town Police issued a release on September 1 detailing a several-months' long investigation by the DA's East End Drug Task Force, along with the Riverhead police and the Suffolk County Police Emergency Services Unit.

According to police, a search warrant was issued at 500 Lincoln Street in Riverhead, after authorities had received complaints from residents about alleged drug activity taking place at the location.

Riverhead Town Police arrested Bryan Hale, 45, of Riverhead, who operated an auto repair business at the site, on Aug. 31 at approximately 8:21 p.m., police said.

Police said the investigation revealed that Hale was allegedly selling marijuana during the evening hours when his shop was open; surveillance indicated "significant pedestrian and bicycle traffic at the auto repair shop, as well as vehicle traffic where subjects would only stop by for brief periods," police said in a release.

Seized were a quantity of marijuana a .22 Caliber rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun, both of which were loaded, police added.

Hale was charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and one count of criminal contempt in the second degree.  

Police said the contempt charge was due to Hale's failure to comply with an order of protection that stipulated he surrender all weapons to the police. The weapons charges were due to a prior felony conviction which precluded him from owning any rifle, shotgun or firearm, authorities stated.

The East End Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional drug enforcement unit funded by the office of Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.