A 21-year-old man from Valley Stream has been arrested following a series of incidents at a local park that culminated in an alleged assault on a police officer, according to Fifth Squad detectives.
Police say the investigation began after a 45-year-old woman reported an encounter at Hendrickson Park on April 12, at 10:00 a.m. The woman told detectives she was roller skating when an unknown man riding a manually propelled bicycle began swerving aggressively toward her. The situation escalated when the man swerved, causing both to fall to the ground. The victim, fearing for her safety, later contacted police.
The case developed on April 18, at 10:50 a.m., when the same woman returned to the park and observed the same individual allegedly swerving his bicycle toward two elderly women. She called 911, and the suspect fled the scene on his bicycle to a residence on Camdike Street.
Officers responded to the area and located Matthew Nunez, 21, at the residence. He was taken into custody. During a search, police recovered a switchblade knife.
Authorities said that while Nunez was being secured in a patrol car, he became combative and allegedly head-butted an officer. The officer sustained a head contusion and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Nunez faces multiple charges, including assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal trespass.
His next court appearance is April 21.