November 25th, 2020 – Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter honored three Park Rangers for helping find a missing autistic Islip teenager last week. Sergeant Ed Carter, Park Ranger, Anthony Lagrasta and Park Ranger, Joseph Esposito, were recognized by Supervisor Carpenter for their heroism, after locating the teen in the woods nearby his home. The teen had been reported missing by his parents at approximately 3:30 Wednesday, November 18th after getting off the school bus.
Members of the Town of Islip Public Safety Department, together with the Suffolk County Police Department and local fire departments, worked together in the search. Through the use of thermal heat sensors, a Suffolk County Police Department helicopter was able to locate the missing teen in a wooded area behind Brookwood Hall in East Islip. Islip Park Rangers secured the perimeter of Brookwood Hall, and entered the wooded area on foot. At 2:05 am, the Park Rangers found the missing teen in near freezing temperatures, in a densely vegetated area of the park. He was immediately reunited with his parents.
“This is a shining example of the dedication of our park rangers, and of our partnerships with our first responders on the local and county level,” said Supervisor Carpenter. “The outpouring of concern from the community for the safe return of this teenager, is a moving testament to the closely knit Islip community,” said the Supervisor.
