Fired worker indicted on arson rap in Wading River’s Pazzo Ristorante fire
A former Pazzo Ristorante worker was indicted Wednesday on arson and burglary charges for allegedly setting the Wading River pizza joint on fire after being fired from his job.
Constantine Sackos, 59, of Holtsville was arrested after an extensive investigation, video evidence canvassing efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies and numerous search warrants following the November blaze, according to a news release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
The Riverhead Town Police Department and area fire departments responded to a 911 call about 1:50 a.m. on Nov. 18 reporting a fire at Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria. Firefighters needed two hours to put out the blaze.
An investigation between the Riverhead PD, Riverhead Town Fire Marshal’s Office and Suffolk County Police Department Arson Squad uncovered a bottle of Kingsford charcoal lighter fluid at the scene and seven points of origin.
Mr. Sackos had been fired shortly before setting fire to the popular pizzeria, officials said. He was deemed a suspect after investigators discovered he had gone to the owner’s residence multiple times — both before and after the fire — to demand back pay, according to the Suffolk County DA.
For the next two months, law enforcement dove deep into video evidence canvassing. The footage allegedly showed Mr. Sackos several hours before the fire loading his bicycle into his Jeep and leaving his home. He drove to Stop and Shop in Farmingville, where he picked up a bottle a Kingsford charcoal lighter fluid similar the one found at the scene, according to investigators.
Mr. Sackos apparently returned home after getting the charcoal lighter fluid. He then left again in his Jeep again at around 11:14 p.m. and made his way to the vicinity of the North Shore Rail Trail in Mount Sinai entrance, according to the charges.
Law enforcement pinpointed “an individual consistent in appearance with [Mr.] Sackos who rode a bicycle, consistent with the one [Mr.] Sackos loaded into his Jeep, from the exit to the North Shore Rail Trail in the direction of the Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria in Wading River,” the Suffolk County DA said.
As smoke billowed out of Pazzo’s, an individual consistent with Mr. Sackos’ appearance was caught on video surveillance footage leaving out the back of the restaurant at around 1:50 a.m. and bicycling away several minutes later, officials said.
Nearly 15 minutes later, the video showed the suspect riding back to the pizzeria before fleeing a second time. Mr. Sackos arrived back home in his Jeep just after 5 a.m. and unloaded his bike from the vehicle into his garage four hours later, according to investigators.
Police executed a search warrant of his Holtsville home on Nov. 20, where authorities found clothing consistent with what he was wearing in the video footage. A K-9 dog also sniffed out accelerant on the recovered clothing, officials said.
“This was a brazen act of alleged arson that could have resulted in tragedy,” said District Attorney Ray Tierney in a statement. “I am grateful for the outstanding work of our first responders who quickly contained the blaze, and for the meticulous investigation conducted by my team, the Riverhead Town Police Department, the Fire Marshals and the Suffolk County Police Department Arson Squad. Their dedication to protecting our community and bringing this defendant to justice is commendable.”
Mr. Sackos is on a supervised release and is being monitored with a GPS ankle bracelet. He is due back in court on Feb. 26. If convicted, he faces five to 15 years in prison.
Riverhead Town officials praised the comprehensive efforts of the Riverhead Town Police Department at the Jan. 29 work session for this arson investigation.
“Everything is electronic, you really can’t get away with anything — we had search warrants on his house, phone, his car,” said Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost. “It’s a lot of man hours to put it together … We were able to bring this gentleman to justice.”
