3 Charged With Stealing Vehicle: Police

RIVERHEAD, NY — Three individuals were arrested and charged with stealing a vehicle, police said.

According to Riverhead Town Police, a call came in at 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday from North Shore Equities, the lien holder of a previously reported stolen vehicle. The vehicle was reported stolen on Tuesday to the Riverhead Police Department, police said.

North Shore Equities said the vehicle, a blue 2003 Ford Explorer, was GPS located in the area of Raynor Avenue in Riverhead, police said.

Patrol units were dispatched to the area to search for the stolen vehicle, police said.

At 4:03 p.m., police located the vehicle at the Citgo Gas Station at the corner of County Road 58 and Osborne Avenue, authorities said.

Inside the vehicle were David N. Moore, 44, of Brentwood, Richard S. Johannes, 20, of Riverhead, and Brenda V. Morales-Arias, 19, of Southampton, police said.

All three were arrested at the scene and charged with fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, police said.

Morales-Arias was also charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; an additional charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance will be forthcoming pending laboratory analysis, police said.

All three were processed at Riverhead Police Headquarters and were held for arraignment in Riverhead Justice Court, police said.