by Jerry Burke and Liz McBreen
When Fifth Squad police officers took Rintin Street resident Lawrence Wan, 20, into custody early Sunday morning, a cautious sigh of relief followed a month of anxiety over whether residents should continue to display their flags or take them down for their own safety during the Independence Day celebration.
According to Fifth Squad Det. Sgt. Robert Galgano, the arrest had been made as a result of increased surveillance in the area since the torchings began on May 13. Over the first four days of the spree, eight flags were burned, including a replacement flag displayed outside a Rintin Street home two days after the first flag was torched.
"Right now we don't know what the motive was," said Galgano, "but the suspect did indicate that he liked to watch them burn."
Galgano would not give any further detail into what led to the arrest, but that the information would be available as soon as the district attorney's office completes the final tally of charges against Wan. "Right now, we have him in custody for five of the burnings," said Galgano. "But we are very confident that we have cleared all 19 incidents with this one arrest."
According to police, the unemployed Wan allegedly lit the flags between midnight and 7 a.m. after returning home on a Hempstead Turnpike bus from Queens, where he was apparently visiting with friends. Police believe Wan would light the flags with a lighter as he walked home from the turnpike.
Half of the flag burned were displayed outside homes on Wan's block. Perhaps sensing the increased number of patrol cars during Memorial Day weekend, the arsons stopped for more than two weeks before resuming again on June 10.
"After the initial offenses, patrols and special detail units were dispatched around the area during the hours that the burnings occurred in hopes of catching the perpetrators" said Police Officer and Crime Analyst Stan Slevinski of the Fifth Precinct shortly after Memorial Day.
Flags were reported burned on Rintin, Grange and Commonwealth Streets as well as Fenworth and Clafin Boulevards.
Police say that two of the homes suffered mild structural damage. "We were lucky in that none of them led to a serious fire," said Galgano.
The Arson Bomb Squad, in conjunction with the Nassau County Fire Marshall's Office, had recently joined the Fifth Precinct in the investigation.
Among those pushing for the increased patrols were Assemblyman Tom Alfano and Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department Fire Commissioner Doris Griffin. Griffin called the incidents incredibly sad for the community while the nation is at a war on terrorism. "While we as a nation are pulling together, we cannot let someone break our spirit in Franklin Square," said Griffin.
Griffin, who is a friend of one of the victims, added, "This really hurt our neighborhood. I was relieved that a serious fire hasn't broken out and caused serious damage."
Wan has initially been charged with two counts of fourth degree arson for the two homes which suffered damage, three counts of fifth-degree arson and fourth-degree possession of a weapon for carrying an illegal knife at the time of his arrest.
He was arraigned Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead and was scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday. As of press time, he was being held in Nassau County jail in lieu of $150,000 in bail.
