Long Island cop allegedly gropes woman in front of her children

Long Island cop Louis Arcila was charged with sexual abuse Thursday for allegedly groping a woman’s breast and thigh in front of her children this summer, authorities said in aNBC New York report, which added that the former NYPD officer now working in Hempstead Village was charged with official misconduct, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly fondling the woman outside of El Rancho Catracho restaurant in June.

He is accused of approaching the victim at the restaurant and asking why her 3-year-old daughter was “dressed a certain way,” NBC claimed before quoting a news release from acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas: “The defendant allegedly followed a woman into a car and sexually assaulted her in front of her two children [ages 3 and 10] while wearing his police shield in plain view.”

The groping ended when the victim’s grown nephew returned to the car with his take-out food, authorities stated in the NBC report, before adding that the victim’s 10-year-old daughter allegedly told the officer to stop or else she would put him “in the hospital.”

“He used his shield as entree to this woman and then put her in a vulnerable position in her own vehicle in front of her own children,” Singas was quoted in a related CBS report, which also stated that the woman tried to fight off Arcila before calling 911.

Arcila’s lawyer William Petrollo said his client is being exploited by a district attorney seeking election next week, NBC claimed.

“The district attorney sat on this complaint and waited four months until today – four days before an election,” Petrillo was quoted by CBS.

Singas, a longtime prosecutor made acting district attorney after her predecessor was elected to Congress, is in a heated battle with Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray to keep her seat, CBS claimed.

Hempstead Village Police Chief Michael Mcgowan said Arcila, who pleaded not guilty, has been placed on modified administrative duty; he faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine, NBC reported. He is due back in court in November.