Suffolk County police are seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating a suspect wanted for punching a protester at a political rally in Setauket two weeks ago, authorities said Wednesday.
A 64-year-old man was picketing at the corner of of North Country Road and
Route 25A when a counter-protester ripped the sign out of the victim’s hand, followed the victim to his car, punched the victim, and pushed the victim to the ground at 12:15 p.m. on Sept. 12.
The victim refused medical attention. Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers released a photo of the suspect and are offering a cash reward for information leading to his arrest.
The incident is the latest in a string of violent clashes between protesters since Long Islanders have rallied against the coronavirus lockdown and police brutality in the past few months.
Incidents included three Black Lives Matter protesters arrested at a Lindenhurst rally in July, a driver recently convicted of trying to run over Black Lives Matter protesters in West Babylon in June, and a protester who charged with falsely claiming to be hit by a driver in Huntington Station after the driver was charged with running over another protester. Police are also investigating as a hate crime the assault of a Black Lives Matter protester in Smithtown.
Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime
Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app
which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or
online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
