A Long Island man says in a lawsuit he was assaulted by an off-duty police officer and then mocked and threatened by other officers when he tried to report it.
Newsday reports Chris Gabriele, of Massapequa, filed the $5 million federal lawsuit last week. It names the Nassau County police department, the county, his neighbor, a Nassau police officer, and several others.
The police department declined to comment because the matter is the focus of an internal investigation.
The county also declined to comment, saying it had not yet been served with the lawsuit.
The suit says Officer William Joie "came up from behind" Gabriele and "violently" punched him in the head as Gabriele was exiting his car in his driveway.
Newsday says attempts to reach Joie were unsuccessful.
Long Island Man Sues Nassau County, Police Department
Chris Gabriele, of Massapequa, filed the $5 million federal lawsuit last week.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
