7 hours ago
Person close to Long Island town supervisor stalked and menaced political challenger days before GOP primary: police
A low-profile Republican primary on Long Island erupted in scandal less than 24 hours before polls opened when the boyfriend of the incumbent's daughter was arrested for terrorizing his political rival in a string of bizarre midnight visits, according to police.
Joshua Smith — the 47-year-old boyfriend of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim's daughter Kellie Ann, according to his Facebook — was arrested Monday night and charged with stalking Wehrheim's challenger in the election, Suffolk Legislator Rob Trotta.
For three straight nights beginning on June 16, Smith allegedly pulled into Trotta's driveway late at night, blasting his brights and loudly revving his engine in a string of back-to-back incidents, Suffolk County police and the legislator said.
3 Rob Trotta's stalker Joshua Smith.
'One night I'm in bed and all of a sudden I hear this loud revving, almost like thunder,' Trotta told The Post about the first night. 'I go to the window, and I can barely see anything until they drove away.'
He said Smith would pull up to his driveway late at night in an '89 Chevrolet pick-up truck — which cops confirmed is his vehicle — and on some occasions, got out of his car to deface his political signs, cutting them up and spray painting others.
Trotta said the harassment started just days after the killing of two state legislators in Minnesota — leaving the county lawmaker fearing this could lead to a similar situation.
'I was more worried about the safety of my wife and family more than anything,' Trotta told The Post about the harassment campaign.
After a second consecutive night of disturbances, Trotta contacted Suffolk police, who installed a discreet license plate reader in his driveway.
3 Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
City of Smithtown
The very next night, Smith allegedly returned — and the reader flagged his plate, leading to officers tracking him down shortly afterward, according to the local legislator.
However, Smith wasn't arrested and charged until the following Monday, after police conducted a full investigation.
His arrest comes just one day before the polls were set to open in a primary that would decide the Republican candidate on the ballot for Smithtown Supervisor. Trotta is challenging Wehrheim for the seat he's held for over seven years.
3 A vandalized sign for Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.
Suffolk County Legislature
Before the arrest, Wehrheim's camp denied any allegations that Smith was involved in any wrongdoing and denounced political harassment, but said the campaign was focused on highlighting the supervisor's record — not engaging in 'distractions.'
'Ed Wehrheim's campaign has been focused on his outstanding record of delivering on promises made over his last 7 and a half years in office as Supervisor,' a spokesperson said.
Wehrheim's campaign did not respond to a request for an updated comment after Smith's arrest.
