Long Island Police Officer Convicted Of Official Misconduct

A Hempstead Village Police officer was convicted of official misconduct and child endangerment on Friday for a 2015 incident in which he tried to assault a woman outside of a restaurant in Hempstead.

Louis Arcila, 51, is due back in court on April 27 for sentencing. He faces up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

“While most police officers honorably protect, and defend the public, this defendant’s conduct was an outrageous abuse of his authority, a betrayal of the oath he took, and a crime that victimized an innocent young mother,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Thanks to the victim’s bravery, this officer will be held accountable for his crime.”

On June 28, 2015 at around 10:30 pm, Arcila, who was off-duty and had his police shield clipped to his waist, was in El Rancho Catracho, a restaurant in Hempstead, when the woman entered carrying her 3-year-old son and her 10-year-old daughter and adult nephew by her side. She was there to pick up food that she had ordered. Arcila approached the woman and her family, with his shield in plain view, and began questioning the woman why her child was wearing only a shirt and diaper.

The woman picked up her food and left the restaurant. She placed her young son in the backseat of the car, and her daughter got into the back seat with him while her nephew remained inside for his food to be prepared. Arcila followed the woman to her car and knocked on the passenger window to get her to lower it. Arcila then threatened to issue the victim a ticket and when she asked why, he said it was because he liked her breasts.

Arcila then opened the passenger door of the car, sat down inside and asked the woman whether she found him attractive. The mother and daughter both testified at trial that Arcila repeatedly tried to touch the mother’s intimate parts.

Arcila surrendered himself to DA investigators on Oct. 29, 2015.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's office