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The altercation occurred on Sunday, Nov. 3, around 7 p.m. in Manorville, near the corner of Sylvan Court and Weeks Avenue.
Suffolk County Police say John Murphy, age 40, a detective with the Rockville Centre Police Department, approached a subcontractor for a cellular company who was sitting in a GMC Terrain and began questioning him.
Murphy allegedly claimed to be a law enforcement officer, refused to examine the worker’s credentials, kicked the vehicle, and tore a light off its top, throwing it at the worker while using a racial slur. The victim is Black.
Following an investigation by the Hate Crimes Unit, Murphy was charged with:
- Two counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree as a hate crime, a felony;
- Aggravated harassment in the second degree, a misdemeanor.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney issued a statement on the incident Wednesday morning.
“The victim here was just trying to do his job, when the defendant allegedly harassed him and damaged his vehicle," Tierney said. "To make matters worse, the defendant is a sworn law enforcement officer, responsible for protecting the rights of citizens, rather than violating them, as is alleged here.
"I thank the Suffolk County Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit for taking this crime seriously and following the evidence no matter where it led. Such conduct will not be tolerated in Suffolk County.”
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring will discuss the arrest around noontime Wednesday.
Murphy was scheduled for arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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