Police: East Meadow resident housing grenade launchers, guns
Crime report
Michael Anderson, 27, whose arrest on March 9 after a routine traffic stop of a woman on the Wantagh State Parkway led to an investigation of an incident of domestic violence, was found to possess a cache of firearms at his home on Bernice Drive, according to New York State Police.
During the traffic stop, State Trooper William Bayer was approached by the woman, whom police described as “hysterical” and who claimed that her boyfriend, Anderson, was chasing her after an incident at their East Meadow home.
Troopers Tiffany Atai and David Augugliaro also responded to the scene and stopped Anderson, who was walking along the shoulder of the parkway. He was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, according to police. The troopers also found a small amount of marijuana on Anderson, and charged him with unlawful possession.
While questioning Anderson, Atai learned that he might have several firearms at his home. During a subsequent search, police said, they found 14 weapons — four handguns, two assault weapons, one shotgun and seven rifles — as well as two grenade launchers, several thousand rounds of military ammunition and numerous loaded, high-capacity magazines.
Anderson was additionally charged with five counts of criminal possession of a weapon, removing weapons’ serial numbers, possessing more than three firearms and illegally possessing assault weapons. Trooper Frank Bandiero added that Anderson did not have permits for the weapons.
He was arraigned in Nassau County First District Court on March 10 and released on $10,000 cash bail. He was due back in court on March 13, as the Herald went to press.
Police said that the woman was treated for injuries she sustained in the domestic violence incident and, according to court documents, she obtained a temporary order of protection against Anderson.
Most of Anderson’s neighbors declined to comment on the incident or said they did not know him, but one 14-year resident, who declined to be identified, said, “It was a shock to me — to the whole neighborhood. I’m glad that he was caught. The police did their job well and that’s all we can ask for.”
