A 19-year-old Amityville man drove through the Sunrise Mall in Massapequa because his girlfriend broke up with him, Nassau police said Friday.
Dwight Thomas allegedly crashed through the mall because he was upset with his ex-girlfriend, who worked at the shopping center.
"He was going in to talk to her. However, his method of doing so was criminal in nature," Sgt. Anthony Repalone said.
Thomas was charged with reckless endangerment for Thursday's incident, which occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Police also charged him with arson for allegedly setting an SUV on fire at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville June 5. Thomas is being held on $750,000 bond.
"Based on information that was gathered, witness information, the same vehicle used [Thursday] was seen leaving the scene of that arson," Repalone said.
Thomas believed the SUV belonged to a man dating his ex-girlfriend, police said. It turned out to be someone else's vehicle.
As for stopping cars from entering malls, Nassau police said they recommend the installation of bollards, which are large concrete pillars placed in front of entrances. Huntington Station's Walt Whitman Mall already uses bollards.
One person sustained minor injuries Thursday after stepping on broken glass. There were no other reported injuries.
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