Tuckahoe police: LI man charged over large cache of weapons

The Tuckahoe Police Department arrested a 47-year-old Great Neck plastic surgeon on multiple criminal possession of a weapon charges.



The arrest resulted from an investigation into a report that Dr. Matthew Bonanno made threats against his estranged wife, a Tuckahoe resident, and her family. Police say they were contacted by someone on Monday who heard the threats and believed that Bonanno was armed.



Police responded to Growler's Beer Bistro in Tuckahoe, where they say he was found to be illegally in possession of a loaded Glock semi-automatic handgun. Authorities say a search of his vehicle, which was parked outside his ex-wife's house, led to the discovery of fully loaded assault rifles, more than 1,600 rounds of ammunition, body armor, a stun gun and other paraphernalia. The vehicle was towed to the Tuckahoe police headquarters, where it is now evidence.



Police say Dr. Bonanno appeared drunk and in a state of crisis.



Police also used search warrants at two other properties owned by Dr. Bonanno. One of them is in Mount Pleasant and the other is in Great Neck, where police found more illegal weapons.



Assault rifles and smoke grenades were found in his apartment on East Shore Road in Great Neck.

Neighbors say police were at Bonanno's apartment for about five or six hours.

"It's just very scary that someone in your building would have all those weapons," said Heather Doyle of Great Neck. "And I have small children and to know that that's happening in your building--it's very upsetting."



Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino says that it's cases like this that show the need for a red flag law, which will soon go into effect in the state of New York. It aims to help officials temporarily separate firearms from a person who may present a danger to themselves or others.



Scarpino is now looking into how and why Bonanno had these weapons. He says he is grateful for the person that called police.



News 12 spoke with Bonanno's ex-wife who said there wasn't any confrontation between the two prior to the incident.



He is currently being held without bail at the Westchester County Jail.



His next court date is Aug. 20 in Tuckahoe Village Court.