The family that stockpiles weapons together, stays together. A Brooklyn couple and their son were among four people busted for having 30 guns, nine knives and scores of drugs in their apartment across the street from a grade school, police said Saturday.
Investigators believe the arsenal – which includes several antique guns and odd items like an umbrella with a blade hidden in its handle – was an illegal collection and not something more sinister, police sources said.
“We have no reason to believe they had any intent to sell these weapons,” a police source said. “They just shouldn’t have had them in the first place.”
Husband and wife Thomas Siano, 57, and Kathleen Siano, 58, along with their son Vincent Siano, 29, and family friend Michael Poole, 29, were charged with criminal possession of weapons after cops raided their Sheepshead Bay home.
Cops executed a search warrant at the family’s West St. home Friday and recovered 10 handguns, nine shotguns, nine rifles, two assault rifles and a large quantity of ammunition, police said.
It was not clear how many of the guns were in working condition, police said. The Siano family did not have permits for any of the firearms, police said.
Cops also found a variety of unusual blades, including three daggers, a sword, a machete and the modified umbrella in the run-down home, which is across the street from Public School 216.
Dozens of pills were also found in the home, but investigators do not believe the family was selling them.
Neighbors said the Siano family often acted strangely – occasionally required cops to be called to quell a fight – but did not seem to pose a threat to the tight-knit neighborhood.
“They were really nice people,” said Rosemarie Parascando, 36, who lived across the street. “Harmless. Strange but harmless.”
“Tommy was an avid hunter,” said neighbor Charles Tovle, 56, speculating that Siano used the weapons on upstate hunting trips. “They’re very quiet except occasionally there were fights late at night, screaming, and the cops would come by and break it up.”
It was not believed that Kathleen Siano or Michael Poole were involved with collecting the weapons but were charged because they lived there, police sources said.
The four suspects were expected to be arraigned later Saturday, officials said.
Poole has a lengthy prior arrest record, including busts for assault, drug possession and DWI, according to records.
Thomas Siano was busted in 1990 for drug possession, officials said. It was not immediately clear if his wife or son had a previous arrest record.
Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/2010/03/27/brooklyn-couple-and-son-busted-for-massive-weapons-and-drugs-stockpile-including-30-guns/