Suffolk County, NY - March 24, 2014 - Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota has directed Scott Greene, the Suffolk County police patrol sergeant suspected of targeting Hispanic drivers to steal cash from them during traffic stops, to appear in court today (Monday, March 24) in Central Islip before Acting Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho. Justice Camacho’s courtroom is on the third floor of the courthouse in the Cohalan Court Complex on Carleton Avenue.
Greene, of Shirley, is free on his own recognizance. District Attorney Spota will brief the media on the status of the investigation of Greene at the Hauppauge SCDA Office in Building #77 in the North County Complex at 725 Veterans Memorial Highway. The news conference is scheduled for 12:30 PM.
The 25-year police veteran is currently charged with official misconduct and one count of petit larceny. At Greene’s March 6th court appearance, the assistant district attorney assigned to the investigation and prosecution of Greene informed the court the criminal investigation is active and more charges are expected.
Greene, 50, was arrested January 30 in an undercover sting operation when surveillance video recorded him taking one hundred dollars cash from an envelope on the front seat of the car driven by a DA Squad Hispanic undercover detective. Sgt. Greene had pulled the vehicle over on Granny Road, about a half mile east of Mill Road in Coram.
District Attorney Spota said the office’s investigation has focused on identification procedures and the interviews of witnesses and the drivers who believe they were victimized by the defendant as well as the analysis of police patrol data. The district attorney said thus far the traffic stops linked to alleged thefts by the police officer occurred in Farmingville, Medford, and Coram.
Following Greene’s arrest, District Attorney Spota said bias crime charges will be charged when the investigation establishes sufficient evidence of additional Hispanic motorists victimized by Greene. The time of Greene’s court appearance depends on the extent of the court calendar. Justice Camacho will begin the calendar proceedings at 9:30 am. District Attorney Spota will brief the media on the status of the investigation of Greene at the Hauppauge SCDA office, Building #77 in the North County Complex at 725 Veterans Memorial Highway. The news conference is scheduled for 12:30 PM.
