Shirley Man Tried To Swipe Detective's Gun During Theft Bust: PD

SHIRLEY, NY — A Shirley man tried to swipe the gun of a detective he struggled with while being placed under arrest for stealing electrical wire from Home Depot on Sunday, Suffolk police said.

Fifth Squad detectives found that Salvatore Paulette stole the wire from Home Depot stores in Bellport and Patchogue between September 2021 and January 2022, according to police. They tried to arrest Paulette in a commercial parking lot located at The Green, just south of Roberts Road, at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, police said, adding that Paulette fought with detectives and tried to steal one of their guns before running away.

He was caught by 7th Precinct patrol officers responding to the area to help detectives, police said.

Paulette, 32, was charged with four counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, two counts of third-degree grand larceny, third-degree attempted grand larceny, second-degree attempted robbery, and two counts of second-degree assault.

He was additionally charged with resisting arrest, and criminal obstruction of breathing, as a result of "struggling with a detective during the arrest," police said.

A spokesperson could not say if Paulette choked the detective, who was transported to an area hospital for treatment of "non-life-threatening injuries."

He is being held at the 5th Precinct in Patchogue and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at First District Court in Central Islip.