Long Island crime briefs

PORT WASHINGTON

Nassau police ID body found

after garage explosion

A man killed when a Port Washington garage blew up on Aug. 5 was officially identified by Nassau County police on Wednesday.

Michael MacNeill, 48, of Port Washington, was identified as the victim by the county medical examiner's office through DNA, according to a news release.

A police source close to the investigation previously told Newsday the victim argued with his estranged wife before using a flammable liquid to intentionally trigger the blast.

The husband and wife earlier had been identified by the source as MacNeill and Angela Nisi-MacNeill, 39.

They had argued before Nisi-MacNeill and the couple's 2-year-old daughter escaped the home on Prospect Avenue moments before a detached garage exploded, the source and police said.

The explosion, which jolted much of the waterfront hamlet, came shortly after Port Washington police officers arrived in response to a 911 domestic disturbance call from the residence, Port Washington police said.

The officers smelled gas and were evacuating the woman and child from the home when a "detached garage exploded and burst into flames," Nassau police said in a statement.

Four firefighters and a Port Washington police officer sustained minor injuries, Nassau police said.

The body was found in the charred rubble of the garage, officials said.

Brian Waterson, assistant chief with the Port Washington Fire Department, said officials think the blaze was "intentionally set with some sort of accelerant" and the garage exploded as the officers "were walking down the driveway."

The fire destroyed the garage and another structure at a neighboring house, Waterson said. A damaged home on Second Avenue abutting the back yard of the blast site also was condemned, he said.

ELMONT

Cops: Man broke into house

as woman was sleeping

Nassau police are searching for a man they said broke into an Elmont home Wednesday and startled a woman as she slept in her bedroom.

Fourth Squad detectives are investigating the 11:30 a.m. burglary on Freeman Avenue but have no suspects yet, police said.

The 21-year-old victim in the case said that she was awakened by noises made by a man who had entered her home by cutting through a screen on the first floor of the house.

The man left the house after the victim awoke but did not take any items, police said. The victim said she was not injured.

Police described the suspect as a 20-year-old man with a thin build wearing a black shirt with white writing on it and dark pants.