The Medford man whose photographs of a local elementary school set off a town-wide heated dispute over asbestos was arrested on trespassing charges Thursday.

Gene Roos says it was necessary to uncover what he calls an asbestos problem at Eagle Elementary School. News 12 Long Island showed the photographs he took from inside the school building as well as the video he recorded. He says the photographs and video show pipes and ceilings covered with asbestos. Roos says he has been looking into the alleged asbestos problem for five years, ever since his friend and former custodian voiced asbestos concerns to supervisors to no avail.

?We've been telling them for years,? Roos says. ?Nobody did anything. Somebody has got to step up and do the right thing.?

The Patchogue-Medford School District filed a complaint with the Suffolk Police Department against Roos saying he trespassed on school property in order to capture the footage. Roos? latest video was recorded last weekend, when air testing and repair work was being done at the school.

He disputes the charges, but surrendered himself to police Thursday.

?Trespassing? I had to go take documented evidence,? Roos says. ?People were playing basketball, handball, riding bicycles ? the parents were all up there snapping photographs.?

Roos was released from the sixth precinct Thursday afternoon on $200 bail. Patchogue-Medford Superintendent Michael Mostow was not available for comment.