by Cris Italia
In December, Kontos was arrested after damaging a minivan carrying three 24-year-olds. According to police, Kontos allegedly "flipped out" while driving his 1996 white Toyota pickup truck through traffic on the Long Island Expressway. He cut the minivan off and forced it onto the shoulder, where he smashed its windows.
According to detectives, Kontos was "annoyed at the way [the driver of the minivan] was driving." After attacking the minivan, Kontos fled the scene and went to his father-in-law's home in Oceanside. The next day he surrendered to the police and admitted the incident.
On Jan. 10, police said Kontos was involved in a verbal dispute inside Madison Hall Bar on Merrick Road in Rockville Centre. One man who was involved left the bar, only to be followed outside by Kontos and another unidentified suspect. Both men ran across the street toward the third man, who was trying frantically to get into his car. Kontos then punched the victim numerous times until he was unconscious and on the ground. Both men then repeatedly kicked the victim about the head and body.
Witnesses at the scene did not recall an argument inside the bar, but saw Kontos allegedly beating the victim. "He must have snapped like a madman," said Rob, a patron at the bar who declined to give his last name. "I don't know what could have been so bad that he did that to someone."
Rockville Centre police responded, arresting Kontos at the scene, while the other suspect managed to flee the scene. The victim was transported to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he is in critical condition, having suffered lacerations and contusions to his head.
Kontos, of 434 Oceanside Parkway, was charged with second-degree assault. He still faces a second-degree assault charge for the earlier road rage incident, as well as third-degree criminal mischief and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.
