Headlines: Cortlandt man faces ghost gun charges, downed wire sparks cabin fire, hazmat cleanup in Larchmont

Here are some stories making headlines across the Hudson Valley.

News 12 Staff

Aug 16, 2023, 11:45 AM

Updated 415 days ago

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Here are some stories making headlines across the Hudson Valley.
A Cortlandt man is scheduled to appear in court today, facing allegations of producing untraceable ghost guns within his residence. Nicholas Zito was apprehended at his Langeloth Drive residence, where police discovered three loaded firearms devoid of serial numbers, along with four unfinished frames for firearms and 23 high-capacity magazines and ammunition. Authorities indicate that Zito employed a 3-D printer to manufacture the firearms. He is confronting multiple felony weapons charges.
Recent investigations by Orange County authorities confirm that the fire at the former location of a New York City-run shelter was deliberately ignited. The blaze, which occurred on July 19, inflicted damage on a barn and storage shed at the disused site in Chester. The barn contained old mattresses dating back to the shelter's closure in 2008, necessitating their removal before firefighting efforts could begin. The Orange County Sheriff's Office has taken charge of the inquiry, and security personnel have been stationed at the county-owned property due to trespassing concerns. Officials have outlined plans for transforming the site into a county park with an adjacent rail trail.
Weather is being blamed for a cabin catching fire at Harriman State Park in Tuxedo. Authorities say it happened around 6:30 a.m. yesterday. Officials say a tree came down, breaking an electrical wire about 150 feet from the cabin. State police, the Tuxedo Fire Department, and park forest rangers all responded, but the cabin could not be saved. No one was injured.
An antique clock is being blamed in a hazardous materials incident in Larchmont. Fire officials say a substantial amount of mercury was unintentionally spilled from the timepiece. A cleanup contractor was engaged to manage the proper removal of the spilled mercury from the affected area.