Hampton Bays Man Found With Metal Knuckles During Traffic Stop: Police

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A Hampton Bays man was arrested Wednesday after he was found driving with a suspended license and in possession of metal knuckles, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, at about 1:30 p.m., a Southampton Town police community response unit officer observed the operator of a white Ford Ranger pickup truck traveling northbound on Ponquogue Avenue in the vicinity of School Street without wearing a seat belt.

A traffic stop was conducted; further investigation by the officer revealed the driver, 43-year-old Ladislav Ruc, had a suspended New York State driver’s license, was in possession of metal knuckles, and had an active Riverhead Town Justice Court bench warrant for failure to appear on a scheduled court date on November 10, 2025, police said.

Ruc was arrested and transported to Southampton Town police headquarters for processing, police said.

He was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony; second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor; and multiple traffic offenses, police said.

He was processed at Southampton Town Police jeadquarters and held for morning arraignment, police said.