Three people were arrested for attacking a woman and making anti-gay remarks in Mastic Beach but were not charged with a hate crime on Monday, Suffolk police said.
Seventh Precinct officers responded to a fight on Gooseberry Drive and upon arrival found that three people had attacked the victim and while kicking, hitting and pushing her, they made numerous anti-gay remarks about her sexual orientation at 7:05 p.m., police said.
Hate Crimes detectives charged Nora Mitzner, 21, of Westhampton Beach, Lindsay McBeth, 25, of Medford, and Selwyn Icangelo, 20, of Mastic Beach, with second-degree aggravated harassment.
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It was not immediately known if they were represented by attorneys. A police spokesman said the victim’s injuries were not serious enough to merit assault as a hate crime charges.
“According to what the victim told us and what the press release stated, it certainly sounds like a hate crime to me,” said David Kilmnick, CEO of Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth. “I’m still hopeful it will get followed up as a hate crime.
Supplemented with AP reports.
Whether anyone believes me, my life was damned near ruined- and for a while it felt ruined, because a woman and I will never know why, lied to save herself. The 7th precinct did not handle this case as they should have and I’ll say it openly, they lied as well. People need to know that it’s not alright to hate and attack people for any reason, but they also need to know that it’s not alright to lie and ruin the lives and reputations of innocent people. NEVER in my 26 years did I ever IMAGINE that I would be defending myself and trying to educate people on the seriousness of something like this. 10 months 2 weeks and 3 days later I’m still affected….eventhough all three of us accused have had our charges dismissed via ACOD. I just can’t seem to get used to the fact that for the rest of my life, I’ll be able to google my name and see the hateful things that are said and thought about me and they aren’t true. I have no intention of letting this rest, not until people are educated on the seriousness of LEGITIMATE HATE CRIMES, but also, not until people in every community, gay or otherwise are made aware that not everything printed or claimed is true. It’s sad that this story was a major one at the time of the incident and the truth wasn’t able to come out given the sensitive nature of the situation. Its sad that now, when the truth can be revealed and lessons can be learned by EVERYONE, there will be no reporters knocking on my door looking for the truth. It’s sad that bad “news” is repeated and gone over and bashed into the heads of readers/viewers- but when the truth comes out who is there to repeatedly bash that into the minds of readers/viewers??? My response has been a long time coming and I’ve never been able to tell the true story I figured now would be a good start….
I am a friend of Linsay’s and I am appauled that this is even being pointed her way. If you know Lindsay, you know how good of a person she is…It is unfair for them to even have their names involved with this!!! It is disgusting….seriously! I am so happy that their names were cleared and Lindsay is in no trouble at all!!! GO LINDSAY!!!