Crimes Nearby: Couple Steals WWII Medal of Honor

Deer Park

A World War II veteran’s Purple Heart stolen last week has been recovered with the arrest of a couple police say are responsible for six break-ins over the past two weeks.

Ryan O’Malley, 33, and Nicole Oliva, 29, who were living at the Deer Park Motor Inn, were arrested this weekend and are charged with six counts of burglary second degree, possession of burglar tools and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Oliva is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun.

Suffolk County police said the couple committed six burglaries, including one on Nov. 4 during which they stole a Purple Heart medal from Thomas Barden of West Babylon. Barden received the medal after he was shot in the head during the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

The arrests came after Officers Brian Kopke and John Burns noticed a gray 2000 Dodge Durango in the parking lot of the Deer Park Motor Inn that matched the description of a vehicle used during one of the burglaries. 

Farmingdale

On Nov. 3 at 10:05 p.m., a state trooper stopped a white Acura for going 86 mph in a 55 mph zone and for failing to signal lane change on the eastbound side of the Southern State Parkway near exit 30,  police said. While interviewing the driver, Michael Blythe, age 23, of Connecticut, the trooper observed that he gave conflicting stories about where he was going and where he was coming from.  The report said that during a search of the vehicle, 12 narcotic pills identified as Suboxones were found in the center console. The defendant was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and traffic violations.

On Oct. 28, police said, a terminated employee struck his former supervisor in the face several times at a location on Allen Boulevard.

North Bellmore

Hasan Kaya was returning home from work late Sunday night when he was gunned down just outside his North Bellmore apartment, police say.

According to the Homicide Squad, the incident occurred just before midnight outside of 925 East Meadow Ave.

Kaya, 49, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and legs and was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

"We do not believe that this was random," Nassau County Police Detective Lt. John Azzata told Patch.

Shell casings from a .380-cal. handgun were recovered at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.