Police: P.L. man illegally stored 440 gallons of gasoline

Nassau County police diffused a potentially explosive situation in Point Lookout on Thursday, when they arrested a man for allegedly hoarding large barrels of gasoline at his home.

According to police, Arson Bomb Squad detectives responded to the Inwood Avenue home of 63-year-old Edward P. Randolph at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 19 for improperly and illegally storing gasoline.

Detectives were granted permission to search the home and discovered eight, unvented 55-gallon drums filled with gasoline stored in Randolph’s basement. With the assistance of the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office, the drums — along with six empty 55-gallon drums, eight 20-pound propane tanks and two handguns — were removed from the home. Police said Randolph was placed into custody without incident and no injuries reported.

Randolph was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned on Friday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Police did not say why Randolph was holding the barrels and said on Friday that no additional details were available.