A Syosset father and son were arrested Wednesday, April 22, for allegedly being in possession of explosives-making chemicals that were found when police were investigating the son on suspicion of graffitiing a swastika at a school, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
Police said they were investigating an incident reported at Syosset High School in which an unnamed 15-year-old boy had drawn a swastika in the boys’ bathroom. As part of the investigation, police went to the teen’s home where they said they found several chemicals combined to make explosives.
The 15-year-old’s father, Francisco Sanles, 48, is alleged to have bought the chemicals over numerous occasions, according to Nassau County police.
Upon finding the chemicals, police said they evacuated the home and neighboring residences. The Nassau County Fire Marshal, Arson Bomb Squad, Nassau County Police Emergency Service Unit and the Nassau County Hazardous Material Response Team – who removed the chemicals – all responded to the home.
Sanles was arrested and charged with seven counts, including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal facilitation, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment.He was arraigned on the morning of Thursday, April 23, at Nassau County First District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to all counts.He is due back in court on April 27.
The son was arrested and handed five charges, including criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, aggravated harassment and making graffiti. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Nassau County Family Court, but no date for his arraignment was provided by police.
Syosset Superintendent Tom Rogers sent a letter to the school district community April 22, explaining that “swastikas and racial epithets” had been found in the bathroom. He said this sparked a school district investigation which identified the student, and the district notified the Nassau County Police Department. He added that the student will also face “serious consequences” under the district’s Code of Conduct.
“Antisemitism and hate speech have no place in our communities or in our schools,” Rogers wrote in the Wednesday letter. “Syosset has long been proud of being a welcoming, empathetic, and inclusive community and those values remain firm. We protect those values and this community by confronting and holding accountable those who traffic in any form of hate.”
Rogers wrote in another letter on April 23, that the district is cooperating with law enforcement and remains in contact with them during the investigation. He said safety is a priority for the school disrict, but that school operations will continue as normal with a “visible” police presence.
A Syosset School District spokesperson said the district is unable to comment on active investigations, and the superintendent wrote that the district can not comment on student disciplinary actions under federal law.
Source: LI Press
