Caretaker Touched Himself In Front Of Disabled Boy: Police

WESTBURY, NY — A Commack man was arrested Tuesday night after police said he was found touching himself in front of a disabled child.

According to police, at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, a Westbury man went upstairs to check on his 6-year-old son, who has a learning disability, and his son's caretaker, Thomas Tana, 60, of Longhouse Way, Commack.

When the father opened the door to his son's bedroom, police said he found Tana inappropriately touching himself in front of the boy, who was undressed. The father yelled at Tana and Tana left the home on foot before police arrived.

The boy was not injured, but was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Tana was located at his home Tuesday night and arrested without incident.

Tana is charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a physically disabled person and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police asked that anyone who feels they may have been a victim of a similar crime to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.