Arrests in Rockville Centre Roxen Road assault

Nassau County and village police arrested two teenagers from Rockville Centre in connection with an incident shortly before midnight on June 18 in which a group of five to eight youths allegedly beat up a 43-year-old man on Roxen Road, sending him to the hospital with serious injuries.

William Moore, 18, of 4 Broadway, was arrested on June 20 and Matthew DiPerna, also 18, of 425 Hempstead Ave., was arrested the following day. Both teens — South Side High School seniors — were charged with gang assault, a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Moore was arraigned in First District Court on June 21, and DiPerna on June 22.

According to police, a group of local teenagers verbally harassed a resident, shouting obscenities, as she walked her dog on Nottingham Road on June 18. The woman grew fearful, police said, and ran home and told her husband about the incident. The two drove around the neighborhood looking for the teens, planning to demand an apology from them, and found the group on Roxen Road.

When the man confronted the teens, they attacked and injured him, police said, adding that a second man, who lives nearby, was also attacked when he attempted to help his neighbor, and the woman was thrown to the ground during the altercation. Neither the neighbor nor the woman required medical attention, but her husband was taken by police to Mercy Medical Center, where he was treated for a broken rib, multiple contusions, a laceration on his face and an injury to his jaw, and eventually released.

Neighbors who heard the disturbance called police at 11:55 p.m. but the teens fled before police arrived. Nassau County detectives were called in to join the investigation.

“The trustees and I have been fully briefed on this incident, and I have directed the [police] commissioner to pursue this case aggressively,” said Mayor Francis Murray. “I thank the residents who have helped us with this investigation so far. We are all working diligently to ensure the safety of our residents. We have complete faith that the police will bring their investigation of this disturbing incident to a proper conclusion.”

“This was a deliberate attack on an individual attempting to defend his wife’s honor by asking for an apology,” said Police Commissioner Charles Gennario. “It could have happened to any resident by a group of these cowardly individuals.

“It was a gutless, unwarranted attack on two innocent victims,” he added. “We will put all necessary resources into seeing that justice is done.”

Moore’s attorney, Christopher Bechtle, said his client is innocent. “My client has pled not guilty and maintains he is innocent of these charges,” Bechtle said. “There are two sides to every story.”

John R. Lewis Jr., who is representing DiPerna, had a different account of the incident. “Based upon our investigation and the people I have spoken to, it’s the alleged victim in this case who was actually the aggressor, who hunted down the boys and started a physical altercation with them. It’s our contention that he threw the first punch.”

“The investigation is continuing, and I’m optimistic there will be more arrests,” Gennario said, adding that anyone with information about the assault should contact Police Department detectives as soon as possible by calling (516) 766-1500.

Aaron Axelson contributed to this story. Check www.liherald.com for updates.