Man Brandished Loaded Handgun At 2, Injured Officer: PD

RIVERHEAD, NY —A man was arrested Thursday after he menaced two people with a handgun and hurt a police officer's thumb while in custody, authorities said.

According to Riverhead Town police, the incident took place at 8:06 p.m when a 911 call came in from Lewis Street about possible trespassing.

Two men, 66 and 50, both of whom have custodial rights to the residence, informed the officers that they were menaced with a handgun by Daquan J. Strand, 34, who has no known address.

Strand was attempting to squat at the residence and when confronted by the two men, an argument ensued, escalating to Strand brandishing the loaded handgun, police said.

Strand was arrested and a loaded, defaced 9mm handgun was recovered; additionally, while in police custody, Strand became violent, causing injury to a police officer's thumb that required medical treatment at Peconic Bay Medical Center, police said.

Strand was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use unlawfully against another; second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, loaded firearm; third degree criminal possession of a weapon, previous conviction; third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, defaced firearm; criminal possession of a firearm; second-degree menacing; fourth-degree criminal possession of weapon; and second-degree assault, police said.

Strand was also arrested and charged with a parole warrant, as he is a New York State parole absconder, having been previously convicted on December 16, 2019, of second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a loaded firearm, police said.

Daquan J. Strand was processed and held for arraignment at Riverhead Justice Court, polices aid.