A Great Neck man was arrested this month for breaking into Splish Splash water park and riding a BMX bike over water slides, Riverhead Town Police announced last Wednesday.
Police said Ethan Solomkin, 25, of Cedar Drive in Great Neck, was arrested on Jan. 2 and is facing a charge of third-degree criminal trespassing.
Solomkin is one of eight riders who illegally entered the Calverton-based water park on the morning of Thanksgiving.
He was issued an appearance ticket and was set to appear in Riverhead Town Justice Court on Wednesday, police said.
A video of the eight men riding through the water park was posted on YouTube and is titled “GoPro BMX RIDING INSANE WATERPARK!”
So far, it has amassed over 9 million views and nearly 9,500 comments.
The video was posted by a user named “Billy Perry.”
Riverhead Police, in the beginning of December, said they arrested William Perry, 22, of West Islip, in connection with the illegal entry.
Police said Perry, Jonathan Nemecek, 25, of Lindenhurst, Anthony Panza, 19, of Lindenhurst and Brian Chliek, 34, of Bayport, had turned themselves in on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6.
Each was charged with third-degree criminal trespassing.
“We talked about sneaking in and riding this water park for years,” Perry wrote in the video’s description. “Thanksgiving day came and it was finally time to head out at 6 a.m. in hopes of riding the water park and not getting arrested. The day was absolutely insane and then we got spotted by security.”
Mike Bengston, Splish Splash’s general manager, told Newsday that the riders had caused “cosmetic and structural damage” to five of the park’s slides and the cost of repair was still being determined.
“It’s very dangerous,” Bengston said. “It’s why we have no-trespassing signs posted all over the property.”
Joseph Hanusiewicz, 24, of Massapequa Park, was arrested on Jan. 6 and was charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, police said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing as one of the BMX riders remains at large.
Anyone with information can call the Riverhead Police Department at 631-727-4500.
