ICYMI: Farmingdale Man Crashes Former Employer’s Tow Truck Into Synagogue: Police

In case you missed it, here's a story that appeared last week in Farmingdale Patch:

BY: PAIGE MCATEE

A Farmingdale man who allegedly sold heroin to undercover detectives was arrested Friday morning after police say he crashed his former employer’s tow truck into a synagogue in Melville.

According to authorities, Edward Stanchio, 48, was driving a 1999 GMC tow truck northbound on Bagatelle Road when he swerved to avoid an animal and crashed into the catering room of Temple Beth Torah, located at 35 Bagatelle Road, at 5:30 a.m.

The east side of the building was extensively damaged although Stanchio was uninjured.

The Melville Fire Department responded to the scene and secured the electric and gas utilities and the building department was notified. The Town of Huntington Building Inspector and Engineer responded to evaluate the damage.

An investigation revealed that the owner of Eddie’s 24-Hour Towing did not give consent to Stanchio, a former employee, to be operating the tow truck at the time of the crash, police say.

Stanchio was arrested and charged with third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration and operating a vehicle at an unreasonable and imprudent speed.

He will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.

Stanchio was also arrested in February after police say he and another man sold heroin to undercover detectives.

Firefighters were under the direction of First Assistant Chief Paul Mahler.

Photo: SCPD