Mineola, NY - October 30, 2015 - Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the indictment today of a Hempstead Village Police Officer who allegedly sexually abused a woman in front of her children outside a Hempstead restaurant on June 28.
Louis Arcila, 49, of Roslyn Heights, surrendered this morning to DA Investigators and was arraigned in front of Acting Supreme Court Justice Terrence Murphy on one count each of Official Misconduct (an A misdemeanor), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (an A misdemeanor) and Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree (a B misdemeanor). If convicted on the top charge, the defendant faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The defendant was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Nov. 13.
“The defendant allegedly followed a woman into a car and sexually assaulted her in front of her two children, while wearing his police shield in plain view,” Acting DA Singas said. “The brave and honest men and women of our police forces do an outstanding job keeping our communities safe, but when a member of the force tarnishes the badge by sexually assaulting an innocent woman, we will prosecute them without fear or favor.”
Acting DA Singas said that on June 28 at approximately 10:30 pm, the defendant, who was off-duty and had his police shield clipped to his waist, was in El Rancho Catracho, a Hempstead restaurant, when the victim entered the establishment, carrying her three-year old daughter and accompanied by her adult nephew, to pick up food that she had ordered. The victim’s 10-year old daughter remained in the car outside the restaurant. Arcila approached the victim and her family, with his shield in plain view, and began questioning the woman why her child was dressed a certain way.
The victim picked up her food and exited the restaurant and placed her three-year old in the backseat of the car, while her nephew remained inside for his food to be prepared. The defendant followed the victim to her car and continued to speak to the victim through the passenger side window of the car. During the conversation, the defendant opened the passenger door of the victim’s car, sat down in the car, leaned over, and grabbed at the victim’s right breast. As the victim knocked the defendant’s hand away, he moved his hand to the victim’s inner thigh. The defendant then moved his hand back up to the victim’s breast a second time.
The attack ended when the victim’s nephew returned to the car and found the defendant groping at the victim. The victim’s 10-year old child witnessed the attack and threatened to put the defendant “in the hospital” if he continued to touch the victim.
Assistant District Attorneys Andrew Weiss and Alexander Lev of Acting DA Singas’ Public Corruption Bureau are prosecuting the case. Arcila is represented by William Petrillo, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.