Community Corner

Weird News: Fireworks Shake Area; Man Eats Pot

Some stories are downright strange. Here's our wrap-up from around Long Island.

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to inspiring tales of community brotherhood. But some stories are just plain weird. Here are some of the stranger headlines from the past seven days.

Bronx Blast Shakes LI

A massive fireworks explosion in the Bronx this week sent shockwaves reaching roughly 10 miles across the Long Island Sound to Glen Cove.

The explosion occurred around 11:15 p.m., when, according toThe New York Post, a garbage pail stuffed with professional grade fireworks detonated at Pelham Bay Park. Police say it's not clear why the fireworks were there or what set them off.

The Glen Cove Police Department received numerous phone calls from residents following the blast, according to a notice posted on the Glen Cove EMS Facebook page. At least one resident said their house shook.

Pot Lunch

A man left behind a trail of crumbs, leading to a felony drug charge, after he admitted to eating marijuana when the vehicle he was traveling in was pulled over for a traffic violation.

According to Northport police, Mark Bartig, of East Northport, was in the backseat of a 1999 Lincoln when it was stopped for illegal window tints Dec. 10. It was then that the officer noticed loose marijuana on his jacket.

Police said that after questioning, Bartig admitted to eating the marijuana and told police that there was another ounce of the drug in the trunk. However, that wasn’t all the officer found.

The officer recovered a glass mason jar with 29 grams of marijuana and 50 clear zip lock bags commonly used to package drugs in the trunk. The officer also found a black digital scale with marijuana residue on it next to Bartig in the back seat, police said.

The driver, Christopher Roel, of Northport, admitted to police that he had a knife in the driver’s side door jam. Upon a search, the officer recovered a large, black metal dagger, police said.

Bartig was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a felony. Roel was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and given a citation for illegal window tints.


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