Westbury man arrested on weapons charges after threatening family

A 33-year-old Westbury man was arrested, charged with multiple weapons offenses, after police said he threatened a 62-year-old woman and her family on Wednesday.

Gabriel Taveras, of 74 Lion Lane, was arrested at 6:45 p.m., Nassau County police said.

He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing governmental administration, aggravated harassment and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

He faces arraignment Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.

Police said Taveras threatened the woman, whose identity was not released, and said he later resisted arrest -- suffering a "minor injury to his wrist" in the process. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for a sore wrist, police said.

Police said that, following an investigation, a search-warrant was issued -- leading police to recover "multiple rifles, a handgun and ammunition."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”