STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. –– Police pulled an arsenal of 80 handguns and rifles, a pair of stun guns and combat knives from a Westerleigh home yesterday morning, authorities said.
The most menacing of the weapons, a black pump-action shotgun with a pistol grip, was next to Gary Granato's bed, while the rest of the weapons were scattered throughout his home at 864 Jewett Ave., according to police who made the noon raid.
Granato, 54, apparently is a collector and bought many of the guns, some of them antiques dating to the early 1900s, at the Web site auctionarms.com. There's no indication that any of the seized weapons were used in a crime, police said.
"Some of these are old, but everything on that table will take a cartridge and will readily take a shot," said Police Lt. Matthew Davis of the Firearms Suppression Division. "These could all be recovered on the street, in any precinct in the city."
Granato did not have a permit for any of the 77 handguns and three rifles and shotguns taken by police yesterday, although he had applied for permits twice in the past and been denied for reasons that were not immediately available, police said.
Some of the weapons would seem to be more at home in the Old West than Staten Island, including a "pepperbox"-style revolver with rotating barrels, several single-shot derringers and blackpowder pistols. Also recovered were automatics as well as two stun guns, three switchblades and two gravity knives, and large metal ammo boxes packed with rounds.
The find startled neighbors of the divided home near Crowell Avenue and across the street from the Engine 163/Ladder 83 firehouse. They reported rarely seeing any foot traffic at the secluded property, which is ringed by a chain-link fence and high plantings.
"Very quiet. You don't even see people at this house," said Paula Carotenuto, who walks her dog by the home every day. "This is just the oddest thing."
Police began investigating Granato in mid-January, and subpoenaed records from the Web site –– sort of an eBay for guns –– which led to the search warrant executed yesterday, police said.
Granato last night was still being booked on what is so far a single count of criminal possession of a weapon, although more charges could come from the prosecutors. His only prior arrest was a petit larceny case from 1972. As of yesterday evening, Granato had made no statements to investigators. No one answered the phone at his home.
Phil Helsel is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at [email protected].
The most menacing of the weapons, a black pump-action shotgun with a pistol grip, was next to Gary Granato's bed, while the rest of the weapons were scattered throughout his home at 864 Jewett Ave., according to police who made the noon raid.
Granato, 54, apparently is a collector and bought many of the guns, some of them antiques dating to the early 1900s, at the Web site auctionarms.com. There's no indication that any of the seized weapons were used in a crime, police said.
"Some of these are old, but everything on that table will take a cartridge and will readily take a shot," said Police Lt. Matthew Davis of the Firearms Suppression Division. "These could all be recovered on the street, in any precinct in the city."
Granato did not have a permit for any of the 77 handguns and three rifles and shotguns taken by police yesterday, although he had applied for permits twice in the past and been denied for reasons that were not immediately available, police said.
Some of the weapons would seem to be more at home in the Old West than Staten Island, including a "pepperbox"-style revolver with rotating barrels, several single-shot derringers and blackpowder pistols. Also recovered were automatics as well as two stun guns, three switchblades and two gravity knives, and large metal ammo boxes packed with rounds.
The find startled neighbors of the divided home near Crowell Avenue and across the street from the Engine 163/Ladder 83 firehouse. They reported rarely seeing any foot traffic at the secluded property, which is ringed by a chain-link fence and high plantings.
"Very quiet. You don't even see people at this house," said Paula Carotenuto, who walks her dog by the home every day. "This is just the oddest thing."
Police began investigating Granato in mid-January, and subpoenaed records from the Web site –– sort of an eBay for guns –– which led to the search warrant executed yesterday, police said.
Granato last night was still being booked on what is so far a single count of criminal possession of a weapon, although more charges could come from the prosecutors. His only prior arrest was a petit larceny case from 1972. As of yesterday evening, Granato had made no statements to investigators. No one answered the phone at his home.
Phil Helsel is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at [email protected].
mmmm, let me think about that....
