Cops: Smithtown man cuts cell tower cables
Ronald Derisi was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and tampering for damaging a cell tower, police said. (Dec. 1, 2011) Credit: SCPD
A Smithtown retiree concerned about his property values was arrested Thursday after he cut several cables to a Metro PCS cellphone tower under construction in Nesconset, Suffolk County police said.
Ronald Derisi, 67, cut at least 12 feeder cables, each about 2 to 3 inches in diameter, that ran from a ground panel box up a 210-foot tower, said Suffolk Fourth Squad Det. Sgt. John Twiname.
The phone company estimated damages at $100,000 and said the cell tower, which was almost fully constructed, will have to be partially dismantled to be wired with new cables, the detective said.
"He was concerned about the microwaves or radio waves from the cell tower, but he was also afraid it was going to impact his property values," Twiname said. "He's trying to sell his house or planning on selling his house."
Derisi's son, Ronald Derisi Jr. of Dix Hills, said he believes the police got the wrong man.
"He's on medication for his back," the son said. "He's going through hell with his health right now. My dad, I'm telling you, he can't cut a piece of cake, never mind a cable."
The older Derisi is charged with two felonies, first-degree tampering and second-degree criminal mischief. He is expected to be arraigned in about a month in First District Court in Central Islip.Twiname said cases of cable damage can crop up when there's a strike with a communications company or when thieves try to strip out the copper to sell. Copper, like several other metals, has been commanding high prices in the past few years, and it's often stolen from foreclosures and abandoned homes.
"Initially, we were looking at the possibility that somebody was stealing the cable to sell the cable," Twiname said. "That's not the case. The cables were just cut and left in place."
Metro PCS will have to run new wires from the terminal box to the top of the tower, he said. "They can't just splice them back together because they don't have the slack in the wires."
Police ask anyone with information to call 631-854-8452.
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