A Riverhead woman was arrested for allegedly dumping household items, including furniture, in the Pine Barrens, Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. announced today.
Toulon said a trail camera captured images of a U-Haul truck dumping the items “in a secluded section of the Pine Barrens in Manorville.” The illegally dumped items included mattresses, box springs, dressers and a television, the sheriff’s office said in a press release. The incident took place on March 13, according to Suffolk County court records.
The sheriff’s office arrested Jeanne Rodriguez, 41, on April 2, according to court records. She was charged with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, a Class D felony, and with one count of violating a local law, a Class A misdemeanor, according to court records.
Toulon announced the arrest today at a press conference outside the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Yaphank, flanked by County Executive Ed Romaine, Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, the District Attorney’s Office’s BEAST [Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team] Unit and Pine Barrens advocates.
At the same press conference, Toulon announced the arrest of Joao Abreu of Port Jefferson. Abreu was charged with felony criminal mischief for allegedly dumping 24 tons of concrete in a remote wooded area off Long Island Avenue in Yaphank, Toulon said. Abreu is the owner of Chase Construction Enterprises, the sheriff said. Abreu, 60 was arrested on April 11 in connection with the Feb. 23 dumping incident and charged with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, a Class D Misdemeanor according to court records.
Abreu’s arrest came after a six-week joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau and the District Attorney’s BEAST Unit, which included license plate checks, vehicle tracking, background checks, and witness interviews, the sheriff said.
Investigators also discovered that Abreu had 27 license suspensions and did not hold a valid CDL license, the sheriff said. His commercial vehicle, which was used in the crime, was seized and found to have 19 safety violations, according to the report. It was immediately placed out of service by the Sheriff’s Office’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, the sheriff said.
“The Sheriff’s Office has been patrolling the Pine Barrens for over 30 years and we take our role very seriously,” Toulon said. “These arrests are a direct result of enhanced surveillance, interagency teamwork, and the diligence of our environmental enforcement units. Both individuals could have disposed of their waste legally—but they chose not to. Illegal dumping is lazy and harmful to our island’s environment and taxpayers’ wallets,” he said.
“These alleged acts of illegal dumping in our treasured Pine Barrens were egregious and demonstrated a blatant disregard for environmental laws designed to protect our ecosystem,” District Attorney Ray Tierne said.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office who, along with our Pine Barrens Enforcement partnership, were instrumental in bringing these alleged offenders to justice. Suffolk County’s environmental heritage is not negotiable, and we will continue pursuing maximum penalties for individuals who choose to prioritize convenience over conservation of our irreplaceable natural resources,” Tierney said.
“Our environment is precious, and one of the reasons why Suffolk County is such a beautiful place to be,” County Executive Ed Romaine said. “These types of crimes cannot and will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will find and arrest anybody who dares to illegally dispose of any waste in Suffolk County,” he said.
Toulon said the Pine Barrens enforcement partnership uses trail cameras, license plate readers and other advanced technology to catch and deter dumpers. The Sheriff’s Office urges residents to be vigilant and report illegal dumping by calling 1-877-BARRENS, he said.
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.
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