Hempstead officer indicted, accused of groping woman outside restaurant

MINEOLA, N.Y. (WABC) -- A Hempstead Village police officer is accused of sexually abusing a woman in front of her children outside a Hempstead restaurant.

Louis Arcila, 49, of Roslyn Heights, was arraigned on one count each of official misconduct, endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse, all misdemeanors. He was released and is due back in court Nov. 13.

Arcila, 16-year veteran of the force, allegedly followed a woman into her car, and grabbed her breast and thigh "while wearing his police shield in plain view," said Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Singas said that around 10:30 p.m. on June 28, Arcila, who was off-duty at the time, was in El Rancho Catracho in Hempstead when the woman entered the restaurant to pick up a carryout order.

She was with her 3-year-old daughter and nephew. Her 10-year old daughter stayed in the car outside the restaurant. Singas said Arcila approached the woman and her family, with his shield, and began questioning her.

According to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, when the woman left while her nephew remained inside the restaurant, Arcila followed the woman to her car where he groped her inner thigh and breast.

The attack ended when the woman's nephew returned to the car. The woman then ran back inside the restaurant and called 911.

Eyewitness News talked with a waitress at the restaurant who was working at the restaurant that night. She said Arcila appeared to be intoxicated, and that she has heard him make lewd comments to the waitresses on other occasions.

The Hempstead Police Benevolent Association said in a statement that it was "disappointed to learn of the indictment of one of our members by the Nassau County District Attorney's office. The officer denies the allegations. We want to stress that this is only an accusation."

It also said that the officer would be vindicated once the facts were presented in court.

Arcila lives in Roslyn Heights and is married with five children. If convicted, Arcila faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.