A Westbury man is facing a stack of felony charges after police say he bit a woman, kicked in her front door, and then pointed a loaded handgun at her during a violent confrontation at a New Cassel home. Ernest Naranjo, 22, was taken into custody following a short foot chase after the woman called police, according to Nassau County investigators.
The confrontation unfolded Thursday evening at a residence in New Cassel, though accounts differ slightly on the exact time. The Nassau County Third Squad, via the department's News Flash bulletin, places the incident at 7:25 p.m., while Daily Voice reported the disturbance began around 7:30 p.m. Third Precinct officers responded to the home for what was initially classified as an aided case, per detectives.
According to detectives, Naranjo got into a disturbance with a 21-year-old woman that escalated when he bit her on the lip. He then left the residence but returned shortly after, kicking in the front door, as detailed by LongIsland.com. Detectives say he then pointed a firearm at the woman, causing her to fear for her life, and struck her with it.
Foot Chase Ends Near Union Avenue
Naranjo fled the scene on foot after the alleged assault, prompting a police pursuit, per detectives. Officers located him near the intersection of Union Avenue and Linden Avenue and took him into custody after a short foot pursuit. A loaded Colt .25 handgun was recovered from Naranjo at the time of his arrest, the outlet's report notes.
The woman called police and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. Naranjo was also transported to a hospital for evaluation, per detectives. Nassau County police listed Naranjo's residence as 241 Covert Street in Westbury.
Multiple Felony and Misdemeanor Charges Filed
Naranjo was charged with second-degree assault, second-degree and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing, third-degree criminal mischief, aggravated criminal contempt and first-degree criminal contempt, the same account states. Under state law, second-degree assault involves causing physical injury to another person with intent to do so by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, according to an excerpt of New York Penal Law Section 120.05. A related statute, Section 265.03, addresses second-degree weapon possession for someone who, intending to use a firearm unlawfully against another, possesses a loaded gun.
Naranjo was arraigned Friday at First District Court, located at 99 Main Street in Hempstead. A protective order was reportedly issued against him, with his next court appearance set for Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to the same Daily Voice report — though the evidence reviewed does not include a court docket confirming those details independently.
Name Echoes a Prior Arrest
Daily Voice also noted that Naranjo's name, age, hometown and general appearance match a man arrested the previous year in a similar incident involving a woman with whom he shared a child, though the outcome of that earlier case was reported as unclear.
