Suspect Michael Anderson
An inquiry about a domestic violence incident unfolded into a discovery of grenade launchers, military assault rifles, and thousands of rounds of military-grade ammunition in a Long Island home yesterday. Michael Anderson, 27, was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, possession of marijuana found on him and at home, and five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. And it all started after his girlfriend stopped a state trooper, saying she had been thrown down a set of stairs.
Newsday reports, "She told [Trooper William Bayer] she had been abused by Anderson and had abrasions on her waist, neck and arms, police said... As Bayer called for backup, a passing motorist stopped to say an "agitated" man was walking along the parkway toward them." (Apparently Anderson also smelled of marijuana.) Other troopers took him into custody and, "As a result of questions that police usually ask in domestic violence cases, Anderson told investigators that he owned weapons and agreed to a search of his home."
Inside Anderson's East Meadow home, troopers "found the cache in a hidden room next to a bedroom closet. Police said the room was concealed behind a false wall." Besides the grenade launchers, military assault rifles and ammunition, they also found a sniper rifle and two handguns with "defaced" serial numbers. Anderson does not have permits for any of the weapons, and the assault rifles are not legal in the U.S. Neighbors told WABC 7, "I didn't know they had weapons in there. But, we knew there was something going on in there, whether it was drugs, something illegal was happening in there," and "It's crazy. I've heard a couple of stories. It's hard to believe, you know. Right next door to your house and in this neighborhood."
On Wednesday, police found a huge arsenal, including grenades, in a Woodmere home. The suspect's attorney said most of the weapons (there were over 100) were antiques from eBay and the whole thing was a hobby that went "out-of-control."
