PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- Suffolk County Police arrested a man on Wednesday accused of assaulting and harassing a same-sex couple on Long Island last month.
At about 7:45 p.m. two women were watching the sunset at Mascot Dock on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue on May 14, when two men in a vehicle made anti-lesbian remarks, officials said.
One of the men punched one of the women while the other man tried to push the second woman into the water then threw one of their cell phones into the water, authorities said.
Both women, 29, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
Following an investigation by Hate Crimes Unit detectives, Joseph Kess, 40, was charged with assault as a hate crime, criminal mischief as a hate crime, and aggravated harassment.
Kess was held overnight at the Third Precinct for arraignment on June 15.
"It is despicable that two young women couldn’t peacefully enjoy a beautiful spring sunset by the bay without allegedly being verbally and physically attacked simply because of their sexual orientation," said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
An investigation remains ongoing.
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