The 27-year-old North Merrick School District custodian accused of dealing heroin has been suspended and banned from school grounds.
Nassau County police arrested Joseph Latona, of Merrick, after Narcotics/Vice Squad investigators say they witnessed him and a second suspect in a “hand to hand” drug deal from his truck. When the detectives approached them and identified themselves, Latona fled the scene, but was driving so dangerously that police say they called off the chase in the interest of public safety.
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Police arrested Latona at his home two hours later. He was found with six bundles of ten decks of “BLACK MAGIK” heroin on him. He was charged with selling 13 bags of heroin and possession of 60.
“I immediately wrote a letter to this person even though he was in custody letting him know that he was immediately suspended and not allowed on school property in any way shape or form,” said David Feller, the school’s superintendent. “Before school started I alerted school principals advised them to meet with their staff and alert them. I also advised them that they should not be discussing this case in front of children.”
Latona has been a school custodian for the past nine years. He spent 5 years at the Old Mill Elementary School, and worked four years prior to that at Camp Avenue Middle School.
Police said there is no indication that he either possessed narcotics on school grounds or sold narcotics to students. “It is disturbing, because a person of that character should be nowhere near children” said Detective Lt. Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Nassau County police.
The buyer, Scott Bono, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Latona and Bono were arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Wednesday where bail for Latona was set at $60,000 cash $30,000 bond.
Detectives request any person with knowledge of similar drug related criminal activity that may have occurred within the school district to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
By Steven O’Brien
