Nassau County police have identified a suspect in the brutal beating of a Florida utility worker John Applewhite outside a Texas Roadhouse restaurant on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow last Friday. Thomas Libretto, 34, of Levittown, was arrested at his home on Tuesday and charged with assault.
Applewhite, who suffered multiple facial fractures including a broken jaw and cheekbone, is now recovering at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Florida. He had been contributing to LIPA’s restoration effort, and was attacked following a 16-hour shift.
Initially, it was suspected that Applewhite was attacked based on his connection with the restoration effort, and there have been a handful of reports of harassment of utility workers by dissatisfied LIPA customers.
According to Libretto, however, the fight began with an argument over Applewhite’s public urination outside the restaurant, and had nothing to do with the utility company. Libretto’s mother told a CBS reporter that the family’s power had already been restored by the time the incident took place around 7:15 p.m. on Friday.
Libretto is being charged with assault in the third degree, and he is scheduled to appear before a judge at the First District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 27.
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