Chemicals found at Syosset home were 'too dangerous' to transport, says prosecutor
The chemicals found at a Patricia Lane home Wednesday were "too dangerous and powerful to transport," a Nassau prosecutor said, leading authorities to do controlled detonations at the scene.
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A father and his teen son were arrested in Nassau County after what started as a bias incident investigation at Syosset High School led the police to discover chemicals that had been combined to create explosive materials inside the father's and son's home.
Nassau County police said they were investigating after a 15-year-old male, who was not identified because of his age, drew a swastika in a male bathroom at the school.
During the investigation, officers responded to the teen's home at 31 Patricia Ln. in Syosset and discovered several chemicals that had been combined to create explosive materials.
Former homeland security advisor Michael Balboni says these kinds of explosive materials are very dangerous—especially in a neighborhood.
“To have something like that in a neighborhood is truly very scary…” Balboni said. “No one was injured, and police did exactly the right thing of stopping something before it happened.”
Balboni says according to his sources, the teen drew the swastika at the request of someone he was talking to online, who promised to sell him more materials.
Nassau County police found multiple acids, oxidizers and fuels in a detached shed about four feet from the home that was partially secured with a clear tarp with several holes being held together by tape, according to court documents.
Police also said they found nitroglycerin, which they said is a highly unstable, powerful liquid explosive, known for extreme sensitivity to shock and temperature that detonates when disturbed, creating a massive gas expansion and heat. Investigators also saw aluminum powder, used primarily as a high-energy fuel in pyrotechnics, rocket propellants and explosives.
Nassau County police had to evacuate the home and the surrounding area.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal, Arson Bomb Squad and Nassau County Police Emergency Service Unit all responded to the scene.
People in the area heard a loud bang as police were investigating.
Sources told News 12 that police had to initiate a controlled detonation of the nitroglycerin, due to its volatility and sensitivity, out of an abundance of caution.
The Nassau County Hazardous Material Response Team also responded and carefully removed the hazardous material from the home.
Investigators said the teen's father, 48-year-old Francisco Sanles, bought the chemicals on multiple occasions, but wasn’t there when his son was combining them. The prosecutor said the son told police that he has injuries and scars on his hands from spilling some of these chemicals.
Nassau County police charged Sanles with two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of 4th degree criminal facilitation, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment.
At Sanles' arraignment, his attorney said his client vehemently denies the allegations against him. Bail was set at $100,000 cash/ $200,000 bond/$500,000 partially secured bond.
Police charged the teen with two counts of first- degree criminal possession of a weapon, , fourth- degree criminal mischief, first-degree aggravated harassment and making graffiti.
He was expected to be arraigned at Nassau County Family Court in Mineola on Thursday.
