Cops: Two Riverhead men face assault, menacing and other charges after March 10 incident at Mill Road home

Two Riverhead men face assault and menacing charges in connection with a March 10 incident at a home on Mill Road.

Riverhead Town Police said Martineil Price, 38, and Justus Davender, 21, were charged yesterday with assault in the third degree and menacing in the second degree following an investigation by the Riverhead COPE unit of an assault and menacing incident that occurred on March 10 at 727 Mill Road, according to a police press release.

A resident there, Wallace M. Conklin reported the assault and menacing to police the following morning. 

Conklin is facing pending charges filed against him in October. He was charged with criminal facilitation, conspiracy, and hindering prosecution, all misdemeanors, for his alleged actions following the escape from police custody of Rasheeda Brown at Peconic Bay Medical Center on Sept. 17.

Brown had stolen a vehicle in Southampton and led police on a chase that took them through three towns and ended when she crashed her vehicle into a state trooper’s vehicle in a crosswalk in the Home Depot parking lot, according to police. Brown was taken to PBMC complaining of chest pains after the crash and escaped from custody there, police said. Brown then stole another vehicle and went to Conklin’s home, where her handcuffs were cut off with a hacksaw, state police said. She was arrested again after yet another crash, this one on Route 58. Police said Brown attempted to forcibly steal a third vehicle before she was apprehended. Brown is currently being held in the county jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail ($750,000 bond) on a slew of felony and misdemeanor charges. Her next court appearance is April 7.

Conklin is due back in court April 4.

Yesterday, police charged Price with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree as a result of another prior investigation, according to the report.

Upon arrest, Price was found to be in possession of quantities of narcotics — heroin, crack cocaine and marihuana — and was subsequently additionally charged with:

• two counts of criminal possession of controlled substance in the third degree – intent to sell;
• one count of criminal possession of controlled substance third degree;
• one count criminal possession of controlled substance fifth degree;
• one count criminal possession of controlled substance seventh degree;
• one count criminal possession of marijuana fifth degree; and
• one count unlawful possession of marijuana.

Upon arrest, Davender was found to be in possession a quantity of marijuana and was subsequently charged with one count unlawful possession of marijuana.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.