1 Photo
Jesse Amberstone
A Bridgehampton man who allegedly lunged with a knife at a Southampton Town police officer in Water Mill on Friday was charged with two felonies after being treated and released from Southampton Hospital along with two police officers.
Jesse Amberstone, 19, of Bridgehampton was charged with second-degree attempted assault on a police officer and menacing a police officer, both felonies, and with misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment. He was scheduled to be arraigned Saturday morning in Southampton Town Justice Court.
Police said that at about 3:15 p.m. on Friday they responded to a call about a man with a knife at Water Mill Square on Montauk Highway. After Mr. Amberstone allegedly lunged at a police officer, making slashing motions in his direction, the officer used pepper spray to subdue him. When Mr. Amberstone resisted being handcuffed, additional police officers were called to assist, as did employees who were working in the area, police said. He was disarmed and subdued before being taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
A man wielding a knife in Water Mill on Friday afternoon injured himself and a Southampton Town Police officer, resulting in both being transported to Southampton Hospital with minor injuries.
Southampton Town Police said they responded to a call of a man chasing another man with a knife at Water Mill Square on Montauk Highway at about 4 p.m. When they arrived, a suspect armed with a knife charged at Police Officer Christopher Florea, attempting to attack him with the weapon, police said.
Officer Florea called for backup and was able to deploy pepper spray and physically engage the suspect until assisting officers arrived, they said. Civilians also helped him detain the suspect.
The officer was taken to Southampton Hospital for the treatment of a small cut and minor injuries from the pepper spray. It was not immediately clear if the cut was from the knife or suffered otherwise during the struggle. The suspect also was taken to Southampton Hospital for treatment of minor injuries as well as a psychological evaluation.
The suspect’s name was not immediately available, but following his release from the hospital he was expected to be charged with felony counts of attempted assault on a police officer in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, as well as resisting arrest, a misdemeanor. Additional charges are likely, police said.
