Cops: Man arrested for machete threats at Tanger Outlets
A machete-toting Mastic man was arrested for making a terroristic threat Tuesday at Tanger Outlets, Riverhead police said.
Police were called to the Route 58 shopping complex about 12:45 p.m. for reports of a man with a machete who was threatening to hurt himself and others, officials said.
There they found John Medina, 32, whom police said had a machete in his backpack at the time. Mr. Medina told responding officers he wanted to “hurt people,” according to a police press release.
He was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, a Class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, and a misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapons charge, police said.
He was arraigned in Justice Court and is being held at the county jail.
“We are thankful that no one was hurt,” said Janine Nebons, the Riverhead outlet center’s general manager. “The incident is under police investigation. We appreciate your patience while the police investigation is underway.”
A clerk at one Tanger clothing outlet said she believes the incident took place near the Tanger II food court, where she saw the man being placed into a police car.
