John Carroll of Ronkonkoma charged with threatening 'mass harm' at Cherokee Street Elementary school

A 63-year-old man was arrested Friday afternoon after allegedly threatening “mass harm” at a Ronkonkoma school, police said.

John Carroll, of Ronkonkoma, drove into the parking lot of Cherokee Street Elementary school about 3 p.m. and began yelling threatening statements, according to the Suffolk County police.

After an investigation, he was arrested at his home at 12:14 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Carroll was charged with making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor, and was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct, police said. 

 In a message sent to parents shortly after the incident, and shared with Newsday via a Connetquot School District spokesperson, superintendent Lynda Adams said a man was seen circling the school parking lot, where "witnesses heard him voicing inappropriate and concerning comments before exiting the campus." She said the remarks were not directed at the school and no students were present.

Following Carroll's arrest, Adams sent the school community a second message saying he is not a parent of any current Connetquot student.

"I would like to take this opportunity to not only thank the SCPD for their assistance, but also the teacher at Cherokee whose quick action and cooperation were integral to not only identifying the individual but also aided in the police’s investigation," Adams said in her message. "I am confident in saying that the information our teacher provided [led] to today’s successful outcome." 

Carroll had been scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday. But the arraignment was delayed after he was taken to a hospital for evaluation, court officials said.

It was not immediately clear if he was represented by counsel.

With Grant Parpan