Besart Astafa of Deer Park made terroristic threats at South Farmingdale business, Plainview church, police say

A Deer Park man is facing multiple charges in connection with threats he is accused of making this week at a South Farmingdale business and a Plainview church, according to Nassau police.

Besart Astafa, 28, entered the Medwell Spa and Yoga Studio on Hempstead Turnpike shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday and began making terroristic threats to the occupants, Nassau police said. Customers were able to intervene and restrain the defendant until police arrived and arrested Astafa, police said.

During the investigation, detectives determined Astafa was responsible for a similar incident in Plainview on Sunday, police said.

Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Astafa entered Plainview's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Washington Avenue, where he assaulted a church employee and made terroristic threats, police said. The victim was able to call police; the suspect fled the scene, police said.

Astafa is facing a range of charges, including making a terroristic threat, assault, harassment, criminal mischief and menacing, police said. In First District Court in Hempstead, Astafa was arraigned Wednesday. He was held on bail of $75,000 cash or $150,000 insured bond or $750,000 partially secured surety bond. A temporary order of protection was ordered. 

Police said, on June 12, a shirtless Astafa entered the Masjid Bilal Mosque on Fulton Street in Farmingdale and, once inside, proceeded to undress. He ran around the common area of the mosque, approached an electronic tablet on a wall and began punching it, causing the screen to crack, police said.

Police were called and arrested Astafa at the scene. At that time, he was taken to a hospital for treatment and evaluation.

He was later charged with criminal mischief, public exposure and lewdness in connection with that incident, police said.

Following his arraignment June 13 on the charges stemming from the mosque incident, Astafa was freed without bail, police said.

After his release, Astafa returned that day to the Masjid Bilal Mosque and again removed his clothing, police said. Responding officers located him in the building's basement, where he was arrested without incident.

In that instance, Astafa was charged with criminal trespassing and public exposure, police said.