Police: Freeport man with AR-style rifle threatened to commit suicide

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The scene near Milburn Creek Boat Basin on Sunday.
Courtesy Brian Brackman
The scene near Milburn Creek Boat Basin on Sunday.
Courtesy Brian Brackman
The scene near Milburn Creek Boat Basin on Sunday.
Courtesy Brian Brackman

At around 3 p.m. on Aug. 19, Milburn Creek Boat Basin, a county park between Freeport and Baldwin at North Ocean Avenue, was evacuated after police received alerts that Thomas Belajonas, 47, of Meister Avenue, Freeport, had an AR-style rifle and intentions to commit suicide, according to officials.

Mayor Robert Kennedy said Belajonas threatened to commit suicide after a family dispute. During the negotiations, he agreed to surrender if an unnamed and off-duty Freeport Police officer responded. The officer rushed to the Milburn Basin Marina, and after an hour Belajonas turned himself to police.

Freeport police were dispatched to the scene, along with Nassau County police officers and officers from the Bureau of Special Operations, Marine Bureau, Emergency Service units and the Hostage Negotiation Team.

Belajonas was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital in a Nassau police ambulance. There were no injuries reported. According to the First Squad, Belajonas was charged with third-dgree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, menacing a police officer or peace officer and second-degree reckless endangerment. He will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead when medically capable.