Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Darius Petty, 34, of East Hampton, was indicted for three counts of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, and other related charges, for allegedly kidnapping and robbing three individuals at knifepoint.
“The charges in this case stem from a deeply disturbing incident where the defendant allegedly approached the victims in a parking lot, threatened them with a knife, and allegedly forced one of the victims to withdraw $300 from an ATM,” said District Attorney Tierney. “In Suffolk County, violent crimes will always be met with serious legal consequences.”
According to the investigation, on September 3, 2024, at approximately 6:42 p.m., Petty allegedly approached three young men in a parking lot at the East Hampton Town Senior Center. The victims were parked inside a vehicle when Petty allegedly asked if he could use one of their cell phones. They obliged and after using a phone, Petty allegedly brandished a knife, held it to the driver’s throat and demanded money from all the men.
Petty then allegedly entered the vehicle on the rear passenger side, held the knife to the front passenger’s throat, and demanded that the driver take him to an ATM machine at Damark’s Deli, located at 331 Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton.
Once there, Petty allegedly forced one of the victims to retrieve cash from the ATM while still holding the others at knife point. When the victim was unsuccessful in retrieving cash, Petty ordered the driver to take him to another bank in East Hampton Village.
Petty then allegedly forced the driver to withdraw $300 and took it from him. He then instructed the driver to bring him to Boatheaders Lane in East Hampton, where he exited the vehicle and fled with the driver’s cash and other belongings.
On September 4, 2024, Petty was taken into custody by the East Hampton Village Police.
On September 18, 2024, Petty was arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for the following charges contained in the indictment:
- Three counts of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony;
- One count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; and
- One count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony.
Justice Mazzei ordered Petty held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond or $1 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.
Petty is due back in court on September 4, 2024, and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by John Halverson, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Annemarie DiBlasio of the Major Crime Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Williams of the East End Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Det. Luke McNamara of the East Hampton Town Police Department.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.