Southampton Employee Busted For Using Town Payloader to Steal Asphalt: Police

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - A Southampton Highway Department employee was arrested after he used a town payloader to remove material from a pile of asphalt minings at the town's highway yard after business hours, police said.

According to New York State Police, Roosevelt Sykes, 47, of Riverhead was arrested on March 23 after Southampton Highway Department officials contacted the New York State Police regarding unauthorized use of a payloader.

Investigation revealed that Sykes had accessed the town highway yard on Corwith Street in Bridgehampton after business hours, police said.

Sykes then utilized a payloader to remove material from a pile of asphalt millings, police said.

Sykes was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, petty larceny and trespassing, police said.

Sykes was processed at the Riverside barracks and released on an appearance ticket; he is scheduled to appear in the Southampton Justice Court on May 4, police said.