Bay Shore man claimed to have gun in Regal Deer Park & IMAX movie theater, Suffolk police say

Suffolk County police arrested a Bay Shore man Friday night after police said he claimed to have a gun in a movie theater at the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park.

Police said Luis Perez, 55, was inside the theater at the Regal Deer Park & IMAX at 11 p.m. when he put on a ski mask, told minors sitting behind him that he had a gun, put his hands in his pockets and acted like he had a weapon, police said.

Some of the patrons panicked and ran out of the theater, which was showing "The Batman." An off-duty Lloyd Harbor police officer was among the 92 moviegoers and held Perez until security arrived, police said. All the theater auditoriums were evacuated, police added.

Suffolk County K-9 officers searched all the auditoriums, trash cans and restrooms and found no weapons, police said.

Perez was charged with making a terroristic threat and held at the First Precinct. His case was continued until March 24 during arraignment Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip, online court records show.

Perez is represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid, which typically does not comment on cases.

With Brinley Hineman

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.