Crime Report: Teacher Faces Child Porn Charges; Man Dies after Struggle with Police

LongIsland.com

A substitute teacher from West Babylon was arrested for possessing child pornography; a Middle Island man died after a physical altercation with police.

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Teacher Faces Child Porn Charges
Suffolk County Police said that a substitute physical education teacher has been arrested for allegedly possessing child pornography. Francesco Santodonato of West Babylon was arrested on Thursday.

An investigation by the Computer Crimes Section led to evidence that 39-year-old Santodonato, a substitute teacher for the Huntington School District, was in possession of child pornography. Police confiscated Santodonato’s computer, and a forensic investigation revealed that he possessed pictures and videos of child porn.

Police stated that there is no evidence that Santodonato had any physical contact with students. Police are urging parents of children in the Huntington School District to speak with them and find out of any possible inappropriate contact with Santodonato.

Santodonato was arrested at his home on 13th Street in West Babylon around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. He is being charged with two counts of Possession of a Sexual Performance of a Child, and three counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child.

Santodonato will be arraigned at the First District Court in Central Islip on June 26.

[Source: Suffolk County Police]

Man Dies after Struggle with Police
An investigation is underway into the death of a man that got into a physical altercation with police on Wednesday night.

Police were called to Maryhaven Center of Hope, a group home in Middle Island, after Dainell Simmons became uncontrollable and violent. Employees requested the police to take Simmons to Stony Brook University Hospital.

According to Suffolk County Police, 29-year-old Simmons became violent and fought with police. Cops were forced to use pepper spray and a Taser to subdue Simmons, who then become unresponsive. Simmons was transported to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he died.

Several officers were treated for minor injuries sustained during the altercation; all were released from various hospitals. The investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy will be performed at the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

[Source: Suffolk County Police]