Mineola man arrested for throwing chemical mixture that ignited into an apartment hallway fire
Nolan Gaugler, a resident of the apartment, was allegedly conducting an unknown chemistry experiment when the mixture reacted violently.
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Police arrested a Mineola man who they say threw an unknown chemical mixture into an apartment hallway and ignited a fire.
Nassau police say the incident occurred early Sunday morning.
Nolan Gaugler, a resident of the apartment, was allegedly conducting an unknown chemistry experiment when the mixture reacted violently.
The 34-year-old took the mixture to the hallway and threw it, igniting a fire that damaged the floor and hallway, according to police.
Residents of the building were temporarily evacuated.
“My mom came in and she was like, ‘we have to get out. We have to get out,’” said resident Iyanna Mckie. “I open [sic] the door. Cops in the hallway. I go down stairs. On the third floor is really smoky. Then we come outside, and then we're just sitting here for hours.”
Police say they found a large quantity of chemicals and laboratory equipment in Gaugler's apartment during their investigation. They also found other mixtures that were determined to be explosive.
Residents said it’s scary to know that dangerous substances were just a few rooms away.
“What were you doing at two in the morning that has chemicals that would explode if it's not your profession? And I feel like if it was your profession, you wouldn’t be doing it,” Mckie said.
Gaugler is charged with reckless endangerment, arson and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police.
He will be arraigned on Monday at the First District Court in Hempstead.
