A 40-year-old man allegedly threatened to kill a Nassau County police officer and beat his patrol car with a baseball bat at an Oyster Bay donut shop early Monday morning.
The officer responded to the Dunkin Donuts on Pine Hollow Road after James Nicoletto of East Norwich after employees reported that he was annoying customers at 5:45 a.m., police said. The officer approached Nicoletto, who was sitting in Honda Accord and asked his name when the suspect “asked the officer if he wanted to fight and threatened to kill him,” police said in a statement.
Nicoletto grabbed a folding knife, made a motion toward the officer, then stepped out of the car and pulled out a metal baseball bat while threatening the officer, police said. He then charged the officer, who drew his weapon and retreated to the other side of his patrol car while trying to diffuse the situation and ordering Nicoletto to drop the bat, police said.
Nicoletto repeatedly beat the patrol car about the rear passenger side quarter panel, causing damage. “He then charged the officer with the bat held over his right shoulder again stating he was going to kill him,” police said.
When additional officers arrived, Nicoletto complied with demands to drop the bat and was taken into custody.
He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center for evaluation when he assaulted another police officer after his restraints were removed for treatment at the request of hospital staff, police said. Nicoletto punched and kicked the officer, resulting in a head injury and blurry vision, police said. The officer was treated and released.
Second Squad detectives charged Nicoletto with assault, menacing a police officer, attempted assault, criminal mischief and possession of a weapon. He will be arraigned when practical.