2 teens charged with causing $23G damage to van, say cops
Suffolk police on Tuesday arrested two teenagers and charged them with busting up a vehicle parked in Hauppauge in August, including etching a swastika into its exterior.
The estimated cost of the damage is $23,000.
Hate Crimes Unit detectives said Apostolos Calamara, 17, of Green Street in Hauppauge and a 15-year-old youth used a stolen handicap sign and wooden pole to break the windows and dent the exterior of a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter van parked at 400 East Rabro Dr.
Their attorneys could not be reached for comment.
The incident occurred in late August, police said. The suspects also carved a swastika into the vehicle, but police said they were not considering the event a hate crime because it was unclear whether the motive was “hate-related.”
Court records show Calamara was arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip on a charge of second-degree criminal mischief and released on $2,500 cash bail.
The juvenile was issued an appearance ticket and released to his parents.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.
Updated now Newsday travel writer Scott Vogel took the ferry over to Block Island for a weekend of fun.