A former Long Island pizzeria employee has been indicted for sneaking into the eatery after closing time and trying to burn it to the ground after getting fired from his job.
Holtsville resident Constantine Sackos, 59, is accused of committing “a brazen act of alleged arson” against Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria in Wading River, Suffolk County prosecutors said Wednesday.
An investigation into the blaze began on Nov. 18, when firefighters responded to a 911 call shortly before 2 a.m. They arrived to find the pizzeria fully engulfed in flames, which gutted the restaurant and also caused damage to a bagel shop and bakery on either side, reported Greater Long Island.
The fire was extinguished after roughly two hours.
Investigators later determined the incident was criminal in nature after locating “seven points of origin and a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid at the scene,” officials said.
Evidence led them to Sackos, whom the district attorney’s office said had recently been fired from the pizzeria and was angry over money he believed he was owed.
“An extensive video canvass” revealed the suspect drove his Jeep to an area grocer to purchase the lighter fluid, then rode his bicycle in the direction of the restaurant in the early morning hours when the blaze occurred.
“An individual consistent in appearance with Sackos” was also seen on surveillance video exiting the rear of the pizzeria “as smoke billowed” from the eatery, prosecutors said. He was then seen riding his bicycle back in the direction he came, before returning home in his Jeep at around 5 a.m.
Following a comprehensive investigation, including the execution of numerous search warrants, Sackos was taken into custody on Wednesday.
He was arraigned later that day on charges of third-degree arson, burglary, criminal mischief and petit larceny. Under New York State law, the charges are not eligible for bail, so he was placed on supervised release with GPS conditions.
Sackos is due back in court on Feb. 26. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count of arson.
