Police arrest East Rockaway man

Residents were told to stay in their homes and holiday rush-hour traffic was redirected away from a four-block area around Davison Court in East Rockaway at 4 p.m. last Friday by a Nassau County Bureau of Special Operations unit along with dozens of police officers.

Fourth Precinct police and the BSO unit responded to a call from a Davison Court resident reporting that, after a verbal altercation, her son, James Pastore, 24, went into the basement of her home and fired a weapon. After they arrived, Special Operations officers could be seen on Davison Court carrying automatic weapons and shotguns, while others held bulletproof shields. Nassau County police set up a temporary command post in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant at the corner of Atlantic and Ocean avenues.

After about an hour, police arrested Pastore without incident after escorting a number of residents away from the house. The officers later found a rifle and metal knuckles in Pastore’s bedroom. It was later determined that he had fired a BB gun in the basement.

At around 5 p.m., an armored vehicle was seen pulling away from the area with at least two special operations officers riding on the running boards. A few minutes later, two more officers were seen walking toward the Davison Court home carrying animal catch poles.

Pastore was charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He had previously been convicted of a felony DWI and illegal possession of a rifle and metal knuckles. He was arraigned on Sept. 19 in First District Court in Hempstead.

Comments about this story? MMalloy@

liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.

Comments about this story? Mmalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.