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Prosecutors released the frightening details on Wednesday of a disturbing knifepoint kidnapping in East Hampton, while announcing the indictment of a local man with a lengthy criminal history for allegedly forcing three young men to drive to ATMs and withdraw cash.
Darius Petty, 34, of East Hampton faces multiple felony charges, including three counts of second-degree kidnapping in connection to the Sept. 3 incident, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said.
The disturbing incident unfolded about 6:42 p.m., when Petty allegedly approached the three victims in a parking lot at the East Hampton Town Senior Center, Tierney said. When the men in the car obliged with Petty’s request to use one of their cell phones, Petty allegedly pulled out a knife and pressed it against the driver’s throat and demanded cash from everyone in the car, the district attorney said.
Authorities said Petty then allegedly forced his way into the rear passenger side of the victims’ vehicle and, while holding the blade of the knife to the front passenger’s throat, demanded that they drive to the ATM at Damark’s Market on Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton.
Outside the store, Petty allegedly forced one of the victims to withdraw cash from the ATM, while still holding the other two victims at knifepoint, Tierney said. The ATM is embedded an exterior wall of Damark’s.
When the victim was unsuccessful in getting the cash, Petty allegedly ordered the driver to take him to another bank in East Hampton Village, where he is accused of forcing the driver to withdraw $300 and taking it from the victim.
“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,” Tierney said. “In Suffolk County, violent crimes will always be met with serious legal consequences.”
According to the investigation, the ordeal ended when Petty instructed the driver to take him to Boatheaders Lane in East Hampton, where he fled with the stolen cash and other belongings, Tierney said.
East Hampton Village Police arrested Petty on Sept. 4. He was arraigned on Wednesday before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei on the following charges:
- Three counts of second-degree kidnapping, a Class B violent felony.
- One count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony.
- One count of attempted robbery in the first degree, a Class C violent felony.
Petty, due back in court on Oct. 9, was ordered on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $1 million partially secured bond. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top count.
Efforts to reach Petty’s attorney John Halverson were not successful.
Prior arrests
The defendant has a history of trouble with the law. As reported by The East Hampton Star, Petty in 2015 was arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief and menacing after reportedly shooting a pellet gun at his brother’s ex-girlfriend.
The newspaper further reported that in 2011, Petty was charged with burglarizing a restaurant in Westhampton. That same year, he was arrested and charged by East Hampton Village police with misdemeanor drug possession, a charge he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, according to 2015 East Hampton Star report. The disposition of the Westhampton Village case is not known.
This is a developing story. Please visit Greater Long Island for updates.
Top photo: Damark’s Market in East Hampton in 2021 (Google Maps).
