An off-duty NYPD detective pulled a gun on three 16-year-olds in a Westchester County road-rage incident after the teens’ car stopped short in front of him, prosecutors allege.
John O’Connell, 36, was was driving east on Route 6 in the Town of Somers at 8:30 p.m. Thursday when the teens came to an abrupt stop because of changing traffic patterns, the Westchester district attorney’s office alleges.
O’Connell had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car, and he became so enraged that he pulled up alongside the teens and rolled down his passenger-side window, prosecutors allege
“I have a gun!” he yelled, then leveled his Glock 19 handgun at the driver, prosecutors said.
He kept driving aggressively toward the teens, who broke off in a panic and called police, prosecutors said.
“It is unacceptable for anyone to turn a traffic grievance into a lethal threat,” Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace said. “My office will now hold this defendant accountable for his outrageous behavior, as we have outlined to the court. The teenage victims in this case demonstrated a laudable measure of composure in navigating a dangerous situation to safety, and I commend them for their courage.”
O’Connell, a Patterson, Putnam County, resident, is assigned to the NYPD’s warrant squad, according to Cacace’s office. He’s been suspended without pay, an NYPD spokesman said.
He was arraigned Friday in Somers Town Court on charges of menacing, child endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon, all misdemeanors. None of the charges are bail-eligible, so he was released until his next court appearance Monday.
His lawyer did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday.
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