By JOSEPH KELLARD
Fourth Precinct police responded to a call reporting a large disturbance outside the Jewish Center of Island Park Congregation Beth Emeth, at 191 Long Beach Road, at about 1:30 a.m., and found 50 to 100 people standing outside the temple and a male subject lying on the ground, according to police. ³The officers who responded to that call found a young man lying unconscious across the street from the temple,² said Detective Lt. Gregory Detwiller.
The 18-year-old man suffered multiple injuries, including head trauma and swelling of the skull, and was transported by a Nassau County police ambulance to South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside. He was initially listed in critical condition in SNCH¹s intensive care unit, but has since been upgraded to stable condition.
In a separate incident related to the gathering outside the temple, another 18-year-old man was assaulted and sustained a fractured thumb and bruised his head while attempting to help his father break up a fight. In connection with this scuffle, Joseph Alvarenga, 23, of Elmont, was arrested and charged with one count of third-degree assault.
The fights followed a birthday party involving about 80 people, which was held at a hall in the temple from about 8 p.m. to midnight, organized by five 18-year-old men for a friend and chaperoned by parents, who characterized the party as non-alcoholic and problem-free, according to police. Officers at the scene said that no one said why the fight occurred.
Detwiller said that police ³are not getting much cooperation from [the first man assaulted],² but added that detectives are looking into the possibility that this was a gang-related incident. ³It looks that way, and that may be a reason he¹s not being cooperative,² Detwiller said.
Detectives request that anyone with information about the incident contact Nassau County Police Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
