Hampton Bays Man 'Combative' With Police, Grab's 1 Officer's Gun, Hits Others In Face: PD

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A Hampton Bays man was arrested after becoming "combative" with officers, grabbing a holstered gun, and hitting police in the face, authorities said.

According to Southampton Town police, the incident took place Thursday at about 10:13 p.m. in a Hampton Bays home.

Police received a report regarding a disturbance in the residence; the caller reported a male resident of the house was knocking things down inside, authorities said.

While Southampton Town police patrol officers were responding, the complainant called back to report the man had struck a female in the residence, police said.

While attempting to investigate what occurred, the man, Joseph Carrello, 51, became combative with police officers, striking them in the face and at one point grabbing one officer’s holstered gun, authorities said.

The female in the house tried to get to Carrello several times and was ordered to stay back while the responding officers were trying to complete the arrest process, authorities said. She then physically pushed a responding officer in another attempt to get to Carrello, police said.

Eventually, with the assistance of several police officers, Carrello, and Cheryl Thomason, 67, were both taken into custody, police said.

Carrello was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, intent to cause injury to an officer/fireman/EMT/nurse, a felony; criminal obstruction of breathing, a felony; second-degree attempted robbery, a felony; and resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, police said.

Thomason was arrested and charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor; and second-degree harassment, a violation, police said.

Carrello was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for medical evaluation and subsequently released to Southampton Town police, authorities said.

Carrello and Thomason were processed at Southampton Town police headquarters and held for morning arraignment, police said.

Thomason was released on her own recognizance after arraignment and Carrello was held in lieu of bail and transported to the Suffolk County correctional facility, police said.

An officer assaulted by Carrello was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and subsequently released, police said.