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Charges Dropped Against Spectrum Worker In Queens Cable Vandalism Case

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Charges have been dropped against a Spectrum employee who was accused of vandalizing fiber optic cables, knocking out service to thousands of customers in Queens last month.

Police had arrested Michael Tolve, a striking Spectrum worker, and charged him with criminal mischief, CBS2 reported. Police had said he was caught on surveillance video cutting cables.

The June 26 incident knocked out phone, TV, and internet service for nearly 60,000 Spectrum customers.

The Queens District Attorney's Office said charges have been dropped pending further investigation of the matter.

There have been other similar incidents in the borough.

Last week, 30,000 customers in central Queens were affected after another fiber optic cable was damaged by vandals.

Back in April, vandals cut a Spectrum fiber optic cable on Cross Bay Boulevard in Queens. The vandalism affected 30,000 cable subscribers and caused $12,000 in damage, sources said.

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