Canine Unit Sniffs Out Man Who Tried To Steal Car in East Hampton Village

James G. Sbardella, a 33-year-old homeless man who is wanted in Florida for violating his parole, was arrested after he tried to steal a car in East Hampton Village on Thursday night, Village Police Chief Jerry Larsen said on Friday.

Police were called to 10 Buell Lane Extension just after 8 p.m., where a man was in the process of trying to steal a car. The man had already fled when police arrived, but responding officers, with the help of the town police, established a perimeter. They called in a canine unit from the Riverhead Town police and a helicopter from Suffolk County police aviation to help locate him.

The search dog tracked the man 69 Buell Lane Extension, where Sbardella was found hiding and taken into custody.

Earlier, the police helicopter spotted another man walking along the train tracks in the village during the search and police took that man into custody, Larsen said. However, the person who caught the man trying to steal the car told police it wasn't the same man.

Larsen said Sbardella, who reportedly grew up in East Hampton, was looking for some transportation, and had actually stolen a different car from the same house about a month ago, but the people who owned the car do not want to press charges. That car had previously been recovered near the charter school off Stephen Hands Road in East Hampton.

Larsen said Sbardella also confessed to a burglary that occurred at 10 Talmage Lane on Nov. 11.

On parole for a burglary in Lake City, Fla., he is wanted on a parole violation there and could be extradited, Larsen said.

Sbardella was charged with second-degree burglary and attempted fourth-degree grand larceny, both felonies, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

East Hampton Justice Lisa R. Rana set bail at $10,000 at his arraignment on Friday morning.