Town Official Kicks Coach Out Of Park For 'Looking Like A Pedophile'

A Long Island gymnastics coach and his friend were told they looked like pedophiles and were kicked out of a public park by Town of Hempstead code enforcement officers last week.

In a video posted to Facebook, two unidentified officers confront coach Ryan Mallon, 25, and Enrique Montañez, 24, who were practicing parkour at a playground in Lido Beach Park.

An unidentified officer tells the two that “to use the playground grounds you have to be that age or accompany a child of that age.”

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After asking if that rule is written on signs displaying the playground’s regulations, the officer says, “Bottom line is I don’t like pedophiles and you guys hanging around a bunch of little kids makes you look like pedophiles.”

Mallon and Montañez are heard off camera protesting and saying they were offended by the comments. The officer then says they would be written up with appearance tickets for not leaving.

Mallon posted the video on Facebook and wrote that he and his friend felt the comment was “highly out of line” and potentially damaging.

“I’m a professional athlete as well as a coach,” Mallon said, according to 1010 WINS. “I work with kids and that could’ve had a backlash for me professionally.”

Town of Hempstead responded with an official statement backing up the officers’ statements about age restrictions.

“Park personnel asked the men to get off the apparatus and when they refused, public safety was called,” officials said, according to the report. “While the employee in question has been counseled on his public interaction, the town’s first priority remains the safety of the children using the playground.”

Mallon posted the video online and said he hoped it would create change that would allow more physical activity.

“Facilities like this playground should be in abundance and open to anyone of all ages - to promote physical health, fitness, exercise, and well being,” he wrote.

Mallon has not decided to take legal action as of Wednesday.

The video below has been viewed more than 14,000 times since Saturday.

Photo: Facebook/Ryan Mallon

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