SOMERS – An off-duty New York City Police detective from Patterson got himself in trouble with the law last summer for allegedly pointing a loaded gun at three teenagers during a road rage incident in Somers.
Now, 11 months later, John O’Connell, who joined the NYPD in 2013 and was promoted to warrant squad detective in 2021, has been found guilty of 12 charges related to the incident.
The 37-year-old O’Connell was convicted this week by Somers Town Justice Michael McDermott in a non-jury trial of six counts each of menacing, three counts each of endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment.
The top charges carry a maximum year in the county jail plus fines of up to $1,000 on each offense.
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace admonished O’Connell. “The defendant’s lethal threats against three of our community’s children have left scars that will stay with them for years. No criminal conviction can erase the enduring trauma of a loaded firearm that is pointed in your direction. However, I do hope this verdict provides the victims and their parents with a sense of closure. There is simply no excuse for escalating a traffic dispute into criminal harassment, especially when the perpetrator is responsible for utilizing de-escalation techniques within his law enforcement service.”
State Police said the incident occurred last August 28 around 8:30 p.m. when the 16-year-olds from Mahopac and Somers were traveling east on Route 6 in Baldwin Place near the Putnam-Westchester border when they came to a sudden halt due to changing traffic patterns.
Troopers said O’Connell, who had been driving behind the teens, was also forced to brake suddenly.
Testimony revealed that O’Connell then drove across the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic and pulled up alongside the teens, rolling down his passenger-side window and yelled at the teens: “I have a gun” and I’m going to fucking kill you” while pointing a loaded Glock 19 pistol, his service weapon, at the teens.
The defendant continued to drive in an aggressive manner toward the teens before they were able to escape and call 9-1-1.
Carmel Police and State Police responded, and O’Connell was suspended from the force after his arrest.
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