Local men face weapon and drug charges after arrest outside Hampton Bays club

Three local men were arrested on drug charges in Hampton Bays early Saturday morning by Southampton Town Police.

Officers from the Community Response Unit observed the three men “acting in a suspicious manner” while seated in a vehicle behind Charlie Brown’s Pub at 214 West Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays, according to a police news release.

The officers observed the driver rolling a marijuana cigarette, apparently preparing to smoke the hand-rolled cigarette and drink alcoholic beverages with the other occupants within the vehicle, according to the report.

On further investigation, police found over 10 additional ounces of marijuana packaged for sale, 13 unlawfully possessed Oxycodone pills, over a half of a gram of powdered cocaine, $1,696 in cash, a drug scale, packaging supplies and a loaded and defaced Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, according to the report.

Police said the three subjects were arrested and charged as follows:

Justin C. Benkov, age 26, of Flanders
1 Count of Criminal Possession of Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony;

2 Counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony;

1 Count of Criminal Possession of Marijuana in the Third Degree, a Class E Felony;

2 Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A Misd

Joshua K. McDermott, age 23, of Flanders
2 Counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree;

a Class A Misd 1 Count of Open Alcohol, an Unclassified Misd;

1 Count of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a Violation

Kenneth Gordon, age 36, of Riverhead
1 Count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A Misd;

1 Count of Open Alcohol, an Unclassified Misd 1 Count of Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, a Violation;

Benkov and McDermott were processed and held for arraignment. Gordon was released to return to court on May 16.

The vehicle they were occuping was impounded, police said.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.