GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) - A thriving crop of marijuana plants, an arsenal of guns, pipe bombs, grenades and enough explosives to potentially level an entire block were uncovered by officers investigating a report of a silent alarm, officials on Long Island announced Wednesday.
Marc Ringel, 53, was arrested on drug, weapons and other charges after police made the discovery Tuesday at the house he shares with his parents in Woodmere, a New York City suburb, Nassau County Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said.
He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, according to the district attorney's office. It was not immediately clear if Ringel had an attorney.
Approximately 20 houses surrounding Ringel's were evacuated as police scoured the home for evidence. Local police were being assisted by the FBI, and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives remained at the scene on Wednesday looking for evidence.
Skrynecki said officers were particularly concerned the home, which he described as a "significant growhouse" for marijuana, may have been booby-trapped.
He said approximately 50 pounds of ingredients for making explosives - including ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, peroxide, sodium nitrate and citric acid - were found in the home. Police also found approximately 100 handguns, 20 long rifles, 15 pipe bombs and 15 hand grenades in various locations around the home, he said.
"We view him as a tremendous threat to society," Skrynecki said.
He said a preliminary investigation does not reveal that Ringel has any known ties to terrorist or extremist groups, and that Ringel's intentions were unknown. Skrynecki said detectives were endeavoring to "find out where his head is at."
Ringel was not licensed to own handguns in Nassau County, the police chief said.