The Southampton Town Police Department today announced the arrests of two Farmingville residents in connection with an armed robbery in Flanders in September.
Police charged Demario L. Weston Jr., 22, and Tiana MacDonald, 24, in the robbery of El Quetzal Deli, located at 790 Flanders Road in Flanders at around noon on Sept. 23.
A clerk at the deli called police to report that a man had entered the building, pointed a gun at her and demanded money, police said. She said the man then physically attacked her, striking her with the gun multiple times before stealing $6,000 in cash, according to a police press release.
MORE COVERAGE: Police seek info about robbery in Flanders Monday
The arrests came as a result of a multi-agency investigation into the robbery, police said in the press release.
In the months following the robbery, the Southampton Town Police Detective Division, with assistance from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force, developed probable cause to identify and arrest Weston, police said.
Southampton Police detectives, along with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force, utilizing the Suffolk County Police Department Emergency Service Unit, yesterday executed a search warrant at a residence in Farmingville where they located and arrested Weston, according to the press release.
During the execution of the search warrant, MacDonald was arrested, police said.
Police said they recovered an illegally possessed handgun and a quantity of controlled substances during the search.
Weston was charged with two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony, all pertaining to the Sept. 23 robbery, police said.
During the execution of the search warrant several conditions were observed which led to additional charges on Weston, police said. Those conditions surrounded the possession of an illegally possessed firearm and a Glad quantity of illicit narcotics, all with a child present in the residence.
Police said Weston was additionally charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count of Criminal Possession of a Narcotic Drug in the Fourth Degree, a class C felony, one count of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.
Police said Macdonald was charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony, two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.
Both parties were processed and held at Southampton Town Police Department, according to the police report.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
