| Recommend |
| Comment |
| Email this article |
| Print this article |
| Get news alerts |
| RSS Feeds |
 Share
|
Digg
Mixx
Linked In
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
A 19-year-old West Sayville man has been charged with starting a fire at an abandoned house in Speonk last Thursday, August 20, hours after he was accused of stealing a can of beer in Westhampton Beach.
John Santangelo was arrested at around 2:15 p.m. in the Speonk train station parking lot following an investigation of a fire that was reported at 10:50 a.m. at 41 North Phillips Avenue, according to Southampton Town Police. Neighbors observed smoke rising from a smaller structure behind a larger, abandoned house at the address, said Eastport Fire Department Chief William Weick.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, which was confined to one room in the five-room structure, in a matter of minutes, Chief Weick said. No injuries were reported in the blaze.
Mr. Santangelo was arrested following a brief investigation conducted by Town Police detectives, and the Southampton Town and Suffolk County fire marshal offices. Police were assisted at the scene by a K-9 unit with the Suffolk County Arson Squad.
Southampton Town Detective Sergeant Randy Hintze said Friday that Mr. Santangelo was observed near the scene of the fire and, following the investigation, was located and arrested at the train station, which is located less then 500 feet from the house. He could not disclose the events that led up to Mr. Santangelo’s arrest more than three hours after the fire was reported.
Det. Sgt. Hintze said detectives have finished their investigation, though he declined to reveal how Mr. Santangelo started the fire. “Our investigation is complete,” Det. Sgt. Hintze said. “We’re waiting for the grand jury to review the case,” he said.
Officials with the Suffolk County Police Department referred all questions about the arson investigation to Southampton Town Police.
Town Police said Mr. Santangelo, who is unemployed, was waiting to catch a train back to Sayville at the time of his arrest on Thursday afternoon. Though he was visiting friends in the area the night before, he was alone at the time of his arrest.
Mr. Santangelo was charged with third-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief and third-degree burglary, all felonies, police said. He was also charged with having an open alcoholic beverage, a town code violation, but did not appear intoxicated at the time of his arrest, Det. Sgt. Hintze said.
Arson was the second crime that Mr. Santangelo was arrested for last Thursday, August 20.
At around 5 a.m. the same day, Mr. Santangelo was arrested by Westhampton Beach Village Police after they said he stole a 24-ounce can of Natural Light beer from the 7-Eleven on Sunset Avenue.
Mr. Santangelo was charged with petit larceny and possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors, Village Police said. He was processed at police headquarters and released later that morning.
Additionally, Village Police said they responded to a call at 2:47 a.m. the same morning after receiving a call that four adults were in a home on Sunset Avenue and using the pool. When contacted by police, the homeowner said the four adults—including Mr. Santangelo—had entered his house without permission. The victim, who did not press charges, also told officers that the group was allowed to use his pool.
Mr. Santangelo was arraigned on Friday, August 21, in Southampton Town Justice Court on the arson charges and is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail at the Suffolk County Jail in Riverside. He was scheduled to return to Southampton Town Justice Court on Wednesday.
North Phillips Avenue was closed to vehicular traffic for about two hours from Montauk Highway to the railroad tracks while firefighters extinguished the blaze.
The building targeted by Mr. Santangelo has been empty for a few years, Chief Weick said.
more
Add a comment
Total comments by it never ends...: 14
Add a comment