Dobbs Ferry man threw Molotov cocktails, cops say

DOBBS FERRY – A 19-year-old man says a Hollywood gangster flick inspired him to throw Molotov cocktails near a local hospital, police said.

Brandon Scerri is accused of taking to the streets around 5 a.m. Sunday after watching a scene from the movie, "Gangster Squad," involving the poor man's grenades.

The Dobbs Ferry man then used lighter fluid and bottles from a recycling bin to make his own Molotov cocktails, police said.

Scerri threw an incendiary device on Bradley Street — behind St. John's Riverside Hospital Dobbs Ferry Pavilion — and another in a parking lot of a condominium complex, police said. No damage was reported.

Officers caught up with Scerri, whose criminal record includes a handful of arrests, shortly after he threw the cocktails, police said. They said the 19-year-old smelled of gasoline and fled from officers as they interviewed him.

"They chased him for a considerable amount of time, but lost him," Dectective Lt. James Guarnieri said.

Scerri eventually came into the station, where he confessed to the crime, Guarnieri said.

Scerri was arraigned Monday and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, second-degree reckless endangerment and obstruction of governmental administration, both misdemeanors, and disorderly conduct, a violation.