A low -winding republican primary on Long Island broke out in scandal less than 24 hours before the polls opened when the boyfriend of the daughter of the established operator was arrested for terrorizing his political rival in a series of bizarre midnight visits, according to the police.
Joshua Smith-de 47-year-old friend of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim’s daughter Kellie Ann, according to his Facebook, arrested Monday evening and accused of Stalking Wehrheim’s Challenger in the elections, Suffolk Legi slator Rob Trotta.
For three consecutive nights that start on June 16, Smith is said to have been pulled trotta’s driveway at night, his brights shoots and his engine loudly shouted in a series of back-to-back incidents, said the police of Suffolk County and the legislator.
“One night I am in bed and suddenly I hear this loud reving, almost like Thunder,” Trotta told the post about the first night. “I go to the window and I can hardly see anything until she drove away.”
He said that Smith would go to his driveway late in the evening in a ’89 Chevrolet-Pick-up truck-by-the police confirmed that it was his vehicle and left his car on some occasions to harm his political signs, cut them up and spray others.
Trotta said that intimidation started only a few days after the killing of two state laws in Minnesota – so that the province’s legislator feared that this could lead to a similar situation.
“I was more concerned about the safety of my wife and family,” Trotta told the post about the intimidation campaign.
After a second consecutive night of disruptions, Trotta contacted Suffolk Police, who installed a discreet license plate reader in his driveway.
The next night Smith reportedly returned – and the reader marked his plate, which led to officers who detect him shortly afterwards, according to the local legislator.
However, Smith was not arrested and charged until the following Monday, after the police had carried out a full investigation.
His arrest comes only a day before the polls would be opened in a primary that the Republican candidate would decide on the vote for Smithtown Supervisor. Trotta challenges Wehrheim for the chair he has been holding for more than seven years.
Before the arrest, the Wehrheim camp denied any accusations that Smith was involved in any misconduct and denounced political intimidation, but said that the campaign was aimed at emphasizing the record of the supervisor – not “distraction”.
“The ED Wehrheim campaign is aimed at his excellent record of fulfilling promises that in function as a supervisor in his last 7 and a half year,” said a spokesperson.
The Wehrheim campaign did not respond to a request for an updated comment after the arrest of Smith.
