GUILDERLAND — Police in May discovered a tractor-trailer-sized cache of fireworks in a Westmere house.

In June, Peter F. Andrus, 63, of 117 Brandon Terrace, was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony; second-degree reckless endangerment and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a firearm — both misdemeanors; and unlawful possession or use of fireworks, an infraction.

His arrest report, made available last week, describes Andrus as a divorced white physician.

Guilderland Police did not release Andrus’s name in May but told The Enterprise that they were assisting emergency medical services workers with a call to a residence. When they arrived at 117 Brandon Terrace, they found a car running inside of the garage.

Andrus was then evacuated from his house to the nearby Westmere Elementary School where he was transported by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center for carbon monoxide related injuries, according to police.
The hospital listed his condition as "stable" that week and he was later released.

Once police discovered powders and other explosive substances inside of Andrus’s home, they called the State Police Bomb Disposal Unit.
According to the arrest report, police found "a large amount of explosive precursors and a large assortment of class ‘C’ fireworks, in his residence."
Police also found "a loaded 38 caliber Colt pistol," in his house, the report says.

Fireworks were found in various locations around Andrus’s home, including some stored in large crates, police said at the time.

Both handmade and commercially-made fireworks were found in the home, as well as the raw materials to make fireworks, such as black powder and flash powder, Chief Technical Sergeant Tim Fischer of the State Police told The Enterprise after the incident.
"Although those are the most common ingredients in pipe bombs, there were no bombs being made there," Fischer said. "There was a small laboratory inside"He was making powders for fireworks."

Fischer said fireworks are not only dangerous to store in a house but could also pose serious threats to local rescue crews if the house caught on fire.
Andrus’s arrest report says he showed a "depraved indifference to human life" because he "did recklessly engage in conduct which created a grave risk of death and/or substantial risk of physical injury to another person."
In New York State, it is illegal for an individual without a permit to "offer or expose for sale, sell or furnish, any fireworks" or to "possess, use, explode or cause to explode any fireworks."