State Police: Brentwood Man Arrested For Damaging New York State Department Of Transportation Vehicle
Southampton, NY - August 24, 2018 - On August 17, 2018, New York State Department of Transportation highway personnel were assisting law enforcement with securing a motorcade route at the U-turn on ST-27 east of exit 66 in Hampton Bays, town of Southampton, Suffolk County.
While setting up the barricade to secure the motorcade route for President Trump’s visit to Long Island, a male driver of a box truck threw a metal object out of the driver’s side window, striking and causing damage to the driver’s side hood, mirror, and the door of the NYSDOT dump truck.
An Investigation led the state police to conduct interviews in Mastic Beach, which resulted in the arrest of Justin A. Velez, age 25, of Brentwood. Velez was charged with Criminal Mischief 3rd degree (E Felony) and was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Southampton Town Court on September 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. Further charges are pending.
New York State Police Major David Candelaria stated, “Our highway workers, like law enforcement, have a dangerous job in making our roadways safer. The action of the defendant put the workers and other drivers in danger. The State Police will continue to stand by our highway workers to help keep them safe while they are out working our roads.”
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.