Gun Store Owner Charged in Illegal Guns Bust
A Bohemia gun shop owner faces up to 25 years in prison after police found hundred of weapons, including a submachine gun, in his unlocked garage. Brian Anderson, 67, is charged with 16 counts of criminal possession of a weapon and a count of criminal possession of stolen property under a grand jury indictment. This all comes after a seven month investigation which Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota says gained “ample evidence against the defendant” purchasing and possessing “a number of illegal weapons including illegal machine guns, unregistered automatic and semi-automatic handguns and a stolen firearm.” Anderson reportedly purchased a full-automatic machine gun from an undercover detective for $75 last fall, according to Spota. A revolver used by a Farmingdale man to fire upon member’s of the DA’s Heroin Task force last summer was at one point listed in the inventory of Anderson’s “Guns & Ammo” gun store, which is now closed. When questioned during a press conference, Anderson denied selling the gun to Nicholas Hansen, the man accused and charged with attempted murder of a police officer. About 300 weapons were discovered the Anderson’s East Patchogue home as was ammunition. Of the weapons found, 10 were unregistered handguns. Possession of 10 or more of these guns is a class B felony. Anderson was arrested in November and has pleaded not guilty. He is currently free on $100,000 bail.
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Cub Scout Trailer Found
A Cub Scout trailer that was stolen from an Islip parking lot last month between January 16-18 has been found. The contents of the trailer, which belonged to Cub Scout Pack 370, were still inside. This included a video projector, monitor, barbecue grills and memorabilia. A jogger happened upon the trailer in Brightwaters on Sunday and recognized it from a media report. No arrests have been made but police ask anyone with information to call (631) 854-8352 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
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Police Seek Bald Suspect in Rogaine Heist
Police are on the lookout for two men, one of whom is bald, after they stole Rogaine for a Sayville CVS Pharmacy. The men were caught on tape on December 17 as they placed three boxes of Rogaine into a gift bag and then left the store without paying. The stolen goods total to about $150. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.
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Whooping Cough Reported in Riverhead School
The Riverhead School District issued a letter dated January 31, notifying parents that a confirmed case of whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial infection, was confirmed in the Riley Avenue Elementary School in Riverhead. The districts super intendant, Nancy Carney, states in the letter, “If your child has or develops a severe uncontrolled cough, you should contact your doctor immediately.” The elementary schools custodial staff with also be taking extra cleaning precautions. The department of Health has confirmed 68 cases of whooping cough this year in Suffolk County alone, with 302 cases reported in 2011, a number which has tripled since 2010.