A Memorial Day outing in Bayville took a hard turn when two teenage boys allegedly used a baseball bat and a lacrosse stick to attack drivers, Nassau County police said. The teens, identified by investigators as 16 and 17 years old, were later arrested after being caught on video in two separate incidents, one in the parking lot at Stehli Beach and another on Bayville Avenue. A 38-year-old man who confronted the pair about littering and a 25-year-old woman driving alone were both targeted, according to police. No serious injuries were reported.
Dashcam Footage Captures Stehli Beach Run-In
Exclusive dashcam video obtained by News 12 appears to show the teens cutting off a man's truck as he pulled out of the Stehli Beach parking lot around 3:50 p.m. on Monday, May 25. Police said the pair popped the trunk, grabbed a baseball bat and a lacrosse stick, then repeatedly struck the vehicle before the driver managed to get away. Investigators told the station that multiple video clips helped them identify both the suspects and the car involved.
Hours Later, Second Driver Targeted On Bayville Avenue
A few hours after the beach confrontation, police said the same vehicle cut off a 25-year-old woman at Bayville Avenue and Mountain Avenue. One of the teens approached her car as she hit the gas and sped off, and he struck the rear passenger-side window, according to officers. The woman's mother told ABC7, "Because of her quick thinking, he was only able to punch her rear back window of her car." Residents told the station the incidents felt jarringly out of character for a village of fewer than 7,000 people.
Teens Face Felony Mischief Charge, Multiple Misdemeanors
Nassau County police charged the teens with second-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second- and third-degree menacing, and second-degree reckless endangerment. Both were arraigned and orders of protection were issued, according to News 12. Authorities have not released the teens' names because they are juveniles. Prosecutors said the case leaned heavily on dashcam footage and tips from the public.
How New York Law Classifies The Alleged Crimes
Under New York law, criminal mischief in the second degree is a class D felony, while menacing and reckless endangerment in the second degree are class A misdemeanors. Criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree is also an A misdemeanor, according to the state penal code. See N.Y. Penal Law §145.10, §120.14, §120.20 and §265.01. Those classifications outline the potential severity of the accusations but do not determine guilt. Because the suspects are juveniles, their cases will move through youth and family court procedures and will ultimately be decided in the local court system.
