Crime & Safety
Police Arrest 3 Men in Hicksville Home Explosion
The men were treating tobacco for the use in hookah pipes when the explosion occurred, police said.
Three men have been arrested after police said they caused an explosion and a fire in a Hicksville home while they were conducting a "Tobacco Treating” operation for the use in hookah pipes.
Police said that the operation involved treating tobacco with acetone, which created a "highly volatile and explosive atmosphere." During the production and packaging of the tobacco, police said an explosion and fire erupted.
A small fire in the basement of the residence was extinguished by the Hicksville Fire Department, and no injuries were reported, according to police.
Davinder Singh, 48, of Queens, and Surender Bhatty, 63, of Carpentersville, Ill., were charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and fourth-degree arson. They will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on September 18.
Dinesh Arora, 38, of Hicksville, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and was arraigned on Sept. 17 in First District Court, Hempstead.
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