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Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina on Friday accused CVS corporate of hampering the homicide investigation into the Christmas night stabbing death of a Lindenhurst store employee by delaying the release of store surveillance video for nearly 18 hours.
“Eighteen hours into the investigation, we still have not been given full access to the video that exists inside the store,” Catalina said. “Quite frankly, that has hampered our ability to make an arrest.”
Catalina made the remarks during a four-minute statement to the media Friday afternoon across the street from the CVS on East Montauk Highway, where the stabbing occurred just before 7 p.m. on Thursday. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine stood alongside him as he addressed reporters.
The victim was identified as Edeedson Ciné, 23, of West Babylon. Police said Ciné was stabbed in the chest about 6:50 p.m. as he worked behind the counter inside the CVS in Lindenhurst.
He was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, where he was pronounced dead.
Catalina said a person of interest has been identified and that an arrest is imminent. Investigators believe the suspect was inside the store for “nefarious reasons,” the police commissioner said, though he stressed the investigation remains ongoing.
Detectives had made progress using witness statements and exterior surveillance footage collected during an overnight video canvas, Catalina said, but the delay in receiving internal video slowed the investigation. He questioned whether corporate policy was prioritized over the homicide investigation of one of the company’s workers.
“The video shouldn’t have been held for 18 hours,” Catalina said. “If the CEO of CVS had to fly out to Long Island to not only console the family but make sure the video was released in a timely fashion so we could make an arrest, then he should have.”
Police said the suspect fled the store on foot following the stabbing. The murder weapon has not been recovered, but Catalina said the injuries are consistent with a knife.
He added that images from surrounding surveillance cameras are expected to be released as the investigation continues.
Suffolk police confirmed they received the internal surveillance video within an hour of Catalina’s public statement.
In a statement Friday afternoon, CVS said the requested video was sent to Suffolk police at 12:30 p.m.
“The video the police requested was sent to Suffolk County PD at 12:30 p.m. today via email,” the statement said. “It took quite a bit of time to pull and package in the specific manner they asked for. We requested they confirm receipt and ability to view but have not yet heard back.”
The Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad is asking anyone with information to contact detectives at 631.852.6392 or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.220.TIPS.
All calls will be kept confidential.
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Top: Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina addressing the media (still image from Suffolk County Police Department video captured on Friday).
