A Deer Park man was arrested Monday after Suffolk County police said he struck a 13-year-old bicyclist in West Islip and drove away without stopping.
The crash happened at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, on Roderick Road near Spruce Avenue, police said. The boy was riding a bicycle when he was hit by a motor vehicle.
Police said the vehicle continued on Roderick Road without stopping.
A citizen later spotted the bicycle at the intersection of Ruth Street and Kane Street in West Islip and called police on Monday, June 8.
Following an investigation by Third Precinct Investigative Unit officers, with assistance from the Criminal Intelligence Section and Third Squad detectives, police arrested Charles Dreitlein outside his residence at 1 Dix Street in Deer Park at approximately 6:05 p.m. Monday.
Dreitlein, 67, was charged with third-degree assault and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury.
Police said Dreitlein was being held overnight at the Third Precinct and was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, June 9, at First District Court in Central Islip.
Suffolk County police said a criminal charge is an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Anyone with information can call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, use the P3 Tips app or visit P3Tips.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000 if the tip leads to an arrest.
Photo: Area near where incident occurred/Google Maps.
