Man Returns To Farmingdale Mosque, Gets Naked, Day After Arrest: NCPD

FARMINGDALE, NY — A man got naked inside a Farmingdale mosque one day after he was arrested in connection with taking his clothes off and damaging a tablet in the same Muslim holy place, Nassau police said.

Besart Astafa, 28, of Deer Park, went to the Masjid Bilal Mosque, at 425 Fulton Street, on Tuesday and removed his clothing for the second time in two days, police said. Officers found Astafa nude in the basement, where he was arrested without incident, police said. He was charged with third-degree criminal trespass and exposure of a person.

His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Astafa was released without bail on his own recognizance during pre-trial services after he had been arrested on Monday evening in a similar incident, police said. Astafa entered the same mosque shirtless around 7 p.m. Monday, police said. Once inside, he began to take all his clothes off and run around a common area, police said. He punched an electronic tablet on a wall twice, causing the screen to crack, police said.

For Monday's incident, Astafa was charged with second-degree criminal mischief, exposure of a person, public lewdness, and second-degree criminal nuisance.