The shouts of a Long Island man woke a sleeping family, who found a new message of hate on their doorstep from the man police say has repeatedly harassed them.
Nassau County Police said the screams startled the family's 7-year-old son awake. He ran to his parents, who were able to look back at their doorbell camera and spot their neighbor leaving something at their house, cops said.
The midnight disturbance Thursday at the family's Hewlett home led to an arrest. Officers took 52-year-old William Quigley into custody on charges of harassment and stalking. He was due in court Friday.
Police said the package recovered from the doorstep Thursday was an envelope containing "letters with antisemitic remarks." The envelope also had hateful symbols on the outside, according to police.
But it's not the first time the man showed up. Police said the family's neighbor has delivered unwanted packages on multiple occasions since May, prompting them to contact authorities.
Most everyone on the Hewlett street knows Quigley -- many are have been torn between concern and compassion for the 52-year-old. They describe the man walking their neighborhood often talking to himself and sometimes screaming at no one.
Get Tri-state area news and weather forecasts to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York newsletters.
Steve Siegal, a Jewish man himself, said he's lives in the neighborhood and known Quigley for decades. He says the their neighbor lost his father and his mother is bedridden, leaving him with little support system.
News
"What does he need? He needs medication. He needs therapy. He needs love. He’s been abandoned by life," Siegal told News 4.
Quigley faced a judge Friday where he pleaded not guilty and was released without bail and ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device. He's due back in court later this month.
