Wheatley Heights Falsely Reported Fires, Slashing Tires At Suffolk Clarion: Cops

RONKONKOMA, NY — A Wheatley Heights man has been arrested in connection with a series of tire slashings, as well as falsely reporting fires, and pulling a knife on an employee at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Ronkonkoma, Suffolk police said.

Fifth Precinct Patrol officers responded to a 911 report of a man slashing tires in the parking lot of the Clarion on Veterans Memorial Highway, Saturday at around 10:45 a.m., according to police.

After canvassing the area, officers found Teshawn Farris at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and Lakeland Avenue at 11:03 a.m., police said.

Fifth Squad detectives and Crime Section officers later determined Farris was also responsible for slashing the tires of six vehicles at the Clarion, as well as falsely reporting two fires there, and then damaging the fire alarm on Dec. 24, according to police.

He also threatened an employee of the hotel with a knife on the same day, police said, adding that Farris also caused $3,850 in damage to a 2022 Tesla in the parking lot of the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station on Dec. 2.

Farris, 26, of Wheatley Heights was charged with two counts of second-degree falsely reporting an incident, a felony, and nine counts of third-degree criminal mischief, as well as one count of second-degree menacing, both misdemeanors.

He was held overnight for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip later Sunday.