LI man charged with bias harassment

SUFFOLK COUNTY Suffolk County police say the woman and her daughter were in the parking lot of the Hess gas station, located at 615 Smithtown Bypass in Smithtown, on August 20 when they were approached by a man who yelled anti-Muslim epithets and threatened to kill them because of their religion.

Authorities say the man then spit on the victim's car and got into his vehicle and attempted to hit the two, who were dressed in complete Abaya, traditional Muslim clothing, by driving in reverse toward them.

One of the victims was able to write down the license plate number of the man's vehicle and contacted police.

Joseph Ballance, 23, of Islandia, was arrested and charged by Hate Crimes Unit detectives with second-degree aggravated harassment.

"This kind of behavior has no place in Suffolk County, and when it does happen, we will continue to work tirelessly to arrest those responsible and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law," Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said.

Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed this incident to call the Hate Crimes Unit at 631-852-6323.


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