Charges Dropped Against Local School Board Member Accused of Firing Gun During Dispute

The charges made against Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District board of education member Douglas Cooper, who was arrested in July, will be dropped.

Cooper, 67, allegedly fired a shotgun at another person during a “landlord tenant dispute” on Breakwater Road on July 10, according to police.

He was charged with menacing, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon and released on a $250 bail, police said.

There were no injuries reported.

After the alleged incident, Cooper told Newsday: “I did not and would not shoot at anyone. I was shooting in the air to scare the deer out. The tenant should not have felt that I was shooting at him.”

He was granted an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal this past Friday after appearing in Southold Town Justice Court before Judge Rudolph Bruer, according to SoutholdLocal.

The charges made against Cooper will be dropped completely given that no other issues arise within the upcoming months, SoutholdLocal reports.

About 20 years ago, Cooper was arrested for firing two shots at a car, once into the front bumper and once into the rear tire, which was driven by friends of a man who had stolen from him, he told SoutholdLocal.

According to the report those charges also received an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal.