Commercial fishermen who had their tires repeatedly slashed in a Flanders parking lot waited in the bushes until they caught the alleged tire slasher in the act and called police, authorities said.
John Lombardi was arrested Sunday and charged with criminal mischief as a felony.
Southampton Town Polcie said the 60-year-old Flanders man told investigators he did it because of a “turf war” between commercial fishermen, some of whom he believes take in more fish than the law allows.
The fishermen who police said caught Lombardi told investigators that they watched him walk up to one of their trucks, look into the flatbed where horseshoe crabs—which commercial fishermen use as bait—in the back and then use a knife to puncture two tires.
The witnesses held Lombardi until police officers arrived and took him into custody. He was released Monday on $500 bail.
Detectives are continuing the investigation prior tire slashings.
