Man Tased After Assaulting Officer, Mask Refusal On Jitney: PD

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A North Sea man was tased and arrested Thursday after assaulting a police officer following a dispute on a Hampton Jitney bus, police said. According to a witness on the bus who spoke with Patch, the altercation was sparked by the man's refusal to wear a mask.

According to Southampton Town Police, on Thursday at 6:50 p.m., a call came in regarding a disturbance on the Hampton Jitney. Officers responded to the Hampton Jitney in Southampton and said Timothy McDonagh, 54, of North Sea, had been causing the disturbance. McDonagh then assaulted the patrol officer and resisted arrest, police said.

Police confirmed that a taser was deployed during the incident.

McDonagh was charged with second-degee assault and resisting arrest; he was held at Southampton Town Police headquarters for Friday morning arraignment, police said.

The police officer was transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries, police said.

According to Damien Choy Smith, who said he was a passenger on the Jitney, he was waiting for the bus in Southampton when the passenger first walked up, "ranting" and spewing "racist" comments.

When they all boarded the bus, Smith said McDonagh at first refused to wear the mask, then complied — eventually removing it again. The bus driver went to ask if there was a problem and then called the police, Smith said.

Eventually, Smith said, McDonagh "began swearing and stormed off the bus," and engaged in a dispute with the bus driver; that altercation is shown on a video circulating on social media.

Despite being tased by police, McDonagh continued to kick, scream, and resist arrest, Smith said. "It was very dramatic," he said.

Smith said he wanted to commend the attendant and driver for maintaining calm, and then, continuing to drive the passengers into New York. "They really did a great job," he said.