Suffolk County Police this morning arrested a man for menacing and endangering the welfare of a child in West Babylon.
A 13-year-old boy was walking with five school friends from one of their houses on 14th Ave., toward the playground at Tooker Elementary School, located at 855 Tooker Ave., at 5:43 p.m. on March 2. Along the way, on 2nd Street, the boy knocked on the door of a random house, located at 1402 2nd St., and then ran away.
John Petrillo, who lives at the house, ran after him. The boy then fled on a bicycle, and Petrillo pursued him in a 2015 Chrysler sedan, cutting him off at 13th Street and Tooker Avenue. Petrillo then got out of the Chrysler and pulled the boy off the bicycle. Petrillo pushed him against the car, hit the boy’s head against the car window, and displayed pepper spray. Petrillo threatened to use it on the boy, and threatened to let his dog attack him if he tried to run away.
A passerby stopped and intervened, and Petrillo released the boy. As the boy left with his friends, Petrillo verbally threatened him.
Following an investigation by First Precinct Crime Section, Petrillo, 48, was arrested at his house at approximately 1 a.m. on March 4. He was charged with Menacing 2nd Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
He is being held overnight at the First Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on March 4.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Authority: Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner 22-136624
Suffolk County Police Department
