Stranded Teens Rescued From Psych Center Building

Three teens who illegally entered an abandoned building at the former Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital had to be rescued by police and fire crews Monday afternoon.

According to State Park Police, the teens, who are from Commack, Smithtown and Hauppauge, had climbed a tree and were able to enter the property's largest and most well known Building 93 through a broken window.

“The teens got up to the eleventh floor, where they entered a room. The door closed behind them and they were unable to get back out,” said park police Sgt. Anthony Catalano. A call was placed to 911 by one of the teens who had a cell phone.

Firefighters from the Kings Park Fire Department walked 11 flights, pried the door open and freed the teens.

All three were charged with trespassing and were released to their parents.

“All of them will have to reappear,” said Catalano. “The buildings are full of asbestos. We couldn’t take them to headquarters. They had to go home and get changed and then come back down.”

The hospital formally closed in 1996. 153-acres of the property is now the Nissequogue River State Park, which was established in 2000. The remaining 35 acres, of which building 93 is part of, were transferred to the agency in 2006.

The plan does not include building 93. Demolition is slated to begin mid-May.