Man Accused Of Spraying NYPD Traffic Agents With Bottle Of Water Arrested
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A man accused of spraying NYPD officers with a bottle of water in Queens has been arrested.
Police said two uniformed traffic enforcement agents had water thrown at them on July 24 near 86th Street and Jamaica Avenue. The suspect appeared to record the crime on his cellphone.
Steven Larosa, 35, of Brooklyn, was arrested Thursday and charged with obstructing governmental administration and harassment.
Residents on the block where the incident took place call it stupid, disrespectful, and dangerous.
"I think he did it for the street cred, to put on social media," one woman told CBS2's Dave Carlin. "If someone did that to me I would punch them."
"The tough guy who confronted two NYPD traffic enforcement agents doing the job taxpayers want & expect them to do has been arrested. Brooklyn resident Steven Larosa, 35, is charged with Harassment and Obstructing Governmental Administration," Police Commissioner James O'Neill posted on Twitter. "Such behavior will never be tolerated."
This only adds to the public outrage sparked by several viral videos where water was thrown at on-duty officers. It's the fourth time NYPD officers were targeted with bottles or buckets of water in recent weeks. More than a dozen suspects are still at large.
Web Extra: Lawmakers, Unions Condemn Latest Water Incident:
On Wednesday, two New York State assemblymen proposed a new law to crack down on those who disrespect the badge.
The bill would make it a Class E felony to throw or spray any substance on on-duty officers. It would be punishable by up 4 years in prison.
Police union leaders blasted Mayor Bill de Blasio as too lenient, risking a slide back to olden days of lawlessness in the city. Some have called on Police Commissioner James O'Neill to resign.
During a radio interview Thursday, O'Neill defended his officers, and himself.
"When you attack me personally, then that's when I really need to step up and say who I am," O'Neill said. "I think most of the cops, especially the people that I work with, know who I am and know how I feel about them and how I care for them."
Of the four men arrested in these cases, all except Larosa are out of jail as they await their appearances in court. Larose is set for arraignment later Thursday night.
