Four teens who police said opened fire hydrants throughout Coram and Middle Island "as a prank" during the past month were arrested Monday night and charged with criminal tampering.
Suffolk County police said the teens, including one juvenile, are from Middle Island and that more than 250,000 gallons of water were lost because of their actions.
Police said that, according to the Suffolk County Water Authority, a "typical hydrant" can release about 2,000 gallons of water per minute and that, as a result of the tampering, "numerous roadways and properties had been severely flooded by the large volume of water expelled from the hydrants."
The water authority, as well as police officers and firefighters from local departments, had to respond to the various incidents to close opened hydrants.
Arrested were David Spoerer, 18, of Pinecone Lane, who was charged with 26 counts of second-degree criminal tampering; Rohin Baweja, 16, and Eloy Vega-Benson, 16, both of Swezey Lane, who were each charged with two counts.
The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, was charged with one count of second-degree criminal tampering, police said. He was released to a parent and will have to appear in Family Court.
The three others were released on station house bail and are scheduled to appear in February in First District Court in Central Islip.
It was not immediately clear what led police to the suspects.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
