On Sept. 2, Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that a New York City Police Department Warrant Squad detective was arrested and charged with multiple offenses for allegedly menacing three 16-year-olds in a road rage incident last week.
John O’Connell, 36, of Patterson, N.Y., was charged with one count of Menacing in the Second Degree, three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, all class A misdemeanors.
He was arraigned on the charges Friday in Somers Town Court, where he pleaded not guilty. He was released on his own recognizance as none of the charges are bail-eligible. Justice Michael McDermott provided temporary orders of protection on behalf of the victims.
O’Connell was off duty at the time of the incident. He has been temporarily suspended from the force.
The defendant is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 8.
DA Cacace said: “It is unacceptable for anyone to turn a traffic grievance into a lethal threat. 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.”
As alleged in a misdemeanor information and supporting depositions filed with the court, on Thursday at approximately 8:30 p.m., three 16-year-old Westchester and Putnam residents were traveling east on Rte. 6 in the Town of Somers when they came to a sudden halt due to changing traffic patterns.
O’Connell, operating a 2024 Honda that had been driving behind the teens and had also been forced to brake suddenly, then pulled up alongside them and rolled down his passenger-side window. The defendant then yelled, “I have a gun” and pointed a loaded Glock 19 pistol at the victim-driver, according to court records.
The defendant continued to drive in an aggressive manner toward the teens before they were able to break off and call the police, their depositions allege.
The case is being investigated by the New York State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Rios of the Northern Westchester Branch and Branch Chief Stephen Ronco.
