A low-profile Republican major on Lengthy Island erupted in scandal lower than 24 hours earlier than polls opened when the boyfriend of the incumbent’s daughter was arrested for terrorizing his political rival in a string of weird midnight visits, in accordance with police.
Joshua Smith — the 47-year-old boyfriend of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim’s daughter Kellie Ann, in accordance with his Fb — was arrested Monday evening and charged with stalking Wehrheim’s challenger within the election, Suffolk Legislator Rob Trotta.
For 3 straight nights starting on June 16, Smith allegedly pulled into Trotta’s driveway late at evening, blasting his brights and loudly revving his engine in a string of back-to-back incidents, Suffolk County police and the legislator stated.
“One evening I’m in mattress and impulsively I hear this loud revving, nearly like thunder,” Trotta informed The Put up concerning the first evening. “I’m going to the window, and I can barely see something till they drove away.”
He stated Smith would pull as much as his driveway late at evening in an ’89 Chevrolet pick-up truck — which cops confirmed is his car — and on some events, bought out of his automobile to deface his political indicators, reducing them up and spray portray others.
Trotta stated the harassment began simply days after the killing of two state legislators in Minnesota — leaving the county lawmaker fearing this might result in an identical state of affairs.
“I used to be extra nervous concerning the security of my spouse and household greater than something,” Trotta informed The Put up concerning the harassment marketing campaign.
After a second consecutive evening of disturbances, Trotta contacted Suffolk police, who put in a discreet license plate reader in his driveway.
The very subsequent evening, Smith allegedly returned — and the reader flagged his plate, resulting in officers monitoring him down shortly afterward, in accordance with the native legislator.
Nonetheless, Smith wasn’t arrested and charged till the next Monday, after police performed a full investigation.
His arrest comes simply someday earlier than the polls have been set to open in a major that may determine the Republican candidate on the poll for Smithtown Supervisor. Trotta is difficult Wehrheim for the seat he’s held for over seven years.
Earlier than the arrest, Wehrheim’s camp denied any allegations that Smith was concerned in any wrongdoing and denounced political harassment, however stated the marketing campaign was centered on highlighting the supervisor’s file — not participating in “distractions.”
“Ed Wehrheim’s marketing campaign has been centered on his excellent file of delivering on guarantees revamped his final 7 and a half years in workplace as Supervisor,” a spokesperson stated.
Wehrheim’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to a request for an up to date remark after Smith’s arrest.
