Cops: Man menaced officer in Oyster Bay, then attacked cop at hospital

An East Norwich man arrested after menacing a police officer early Monday in the parking lot of an Oyster Bay doughnut shop later punched and kicked another officer at Nassau University Medical Center where he was taken for evaluation, Nassau County police said.

James Nicoletto, 40, of 14 Locust Ave., was arrested after he threatened a Second Precinct officer with a baseball bat at the Dunkin' Donuts at 185 Pine Hollow Rd., police said in a release.

Nicoletto threatened to kill the officer with the bat and then used it to smash a quarter panel of a patrol car, police said. Later, after he dropped the bat and was taken to the East Meadow hospital, he punched and kicked an officer as his restraints were removed.

The officer was treated for blurry vision and a head injury and released, police said.

The incident began about 5:45 a.m., when police responded to a call about an annoying customer at the Dunkin' Donuts.

A Second Precinct officer approached Nicoletto, who was sitting in a 2002 Honda in the lot, police said. A shop employee told police Nicoletto had gone in and out of the doughnut shop several times, bothering customers.

Nicoletto asked the officer if he "wanted to fight and threatened to kill him," the police report said.

Nicoletto used a folding knife to make threatening motions, the report said, and then stepped out of the car, reached inside, and pulled out a metal baseball bat.

Police said Nicoletto charged the officer, who retreated and had drawn his gun. Nicoletto then swung the bat repeatedly at the patrol car, damaging its passenger side quarter panel, police said.

Police said the officer continually tried to diffuse the situation by retreating and that Nicoletto finally dropped the bat when additional officers arrived.

Nicoletto was charged with menacing a police officer, attempted assault, criminal mischief and possession of a weapon. He was additionally charged with second-degree assault in the hospital attack, police said.

His arraignment information was not immediately available.

By GARY DYMSKI
Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2010

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page