Oceanside man who had plane in driveway accused of threatening workers

OCEANSIDE, Long Island (WABC) -- A turbulent controversy involving a small private plane parked in front of an Oceanside home has gone to new heights with the aircraft's owner being placed behind bars.

Police say 70-year-old Harold Guretzky threatened Hempstead town officials on the phone with a crossbow after they removed his 24-foot-long Cessna from his driveway.

The town sent several violations notices to Guretzky before engineers disassembled and removed the aircraft last week, prompting Guretzky's temper to peak.

"Is he an angry man, yes, is he ever going to hurt anybody, absolutely not," Guretzky's attorney said.

Speaking after his arraignment Wednesday Guretzky's attorney asserted he's a harmless man that just wants his beloved plane back.

However, Guretzky is now being charged with two counts of aggravated harassment.

"He's an angry old man. He called up, he made a threat, he's not going to carry it out. If I had a nickel for every time somebody threatened me I'd be a millionaire, that's what I told the judge," Guretzky's attorney said.

Guretzky's plane is now at a town storage facility until a judge decides a further course of action.

Meanwhile, at least some of Guretzky's neighbors say they feel bad this situation has taken such a downward spiral.