By Chris Munzing
Ronald Smith of Dexter, Mich. was arrested after the incident, which police say took place in the campground's public shower and bathroom facility. According to detectives from Nassau's Fourth Squad, Smith entered the camp's women's public shower at about 1:40 a.m. and confronted a woman taking a shower. Smith allegedly attempted to sexually assault the woman, and stabbed her in the abdomen when she resisted. Police said she was in stable condition at Long Beach Medical Center. Her identity was being withheld due to the nature of the attack.
A passerby heard the disturbance and notified police. Fourth Precinct officer Scott McLaughlin responded and arrested Smith, who was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree attempted rape.
Police said Smith used an implement they identified as a "folding knife."
"To say it was a pocket knife would make it seem innocuous," Fourth Precinct Detective Sgt. Bill Miller said.
Miller said that Smith has a previous arrest record and served jail time in the 1970s for breaking and entering and sexual assault. "He is currently working with a traveling carnival, and some carnival workers, including him, set up tents in the trailer camp," Miller said. Miller believes the carnival Smith is with is currently operating in Central Islip.
Miller said that Smith did not know the woman, but had been watching the women's shower facility with the intent of attacking someone there.
One camper who asked not to be identified said that he heard the woman's screams and thought the worst. "I've been coming here for years -- this is the first time anything stupid like this happened," he said.
Another unidentified camper agreed, saying that the facility has been nothing but safe during his frequent visits from Florida. Though he was unaware of the incident, he said that he wasn't more scared now, though he added that he would be informing his wife about the incident.
He also didn't believe that the attack would affect the campground's ability to draw people, citing the lack of such facilities on Long Island. "[People] want to get away, they want to camp. It's one of the nicest beaches anywhere," he said.
Beachgoer Jackie Devons said that she knew of the incident and wouldn't stick around after dark. "As long as you're at the beach, it's fine, but I wouldn't come down here at night," she said.
Numerous camp workers and officials refused to comment on the incident.
Joe Kellard and Jason Scheer contributed to this story.
