The Kings Point Civic Association called a special safety meeting this week after police reported that an unnamed 38-year-old woman was abducted at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy bus stop on Steamboat Road and driven around Great Neck on Monday, Nov. 21 before later being released unharmed.
“I’m not just concerned about the incident, but I’d like from our police forces some information for the community and what we can do to be safe if there is an individual like this in our midst,” Kings Point Civic Association president Marsha Rotman said.
The civic association meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. at John F. Kennedy Elementary School, is aimed at ways residents can be proactive in protecting themselves against these types of attacks.
Representatives from the Nassau County and Kings Point police departments are expected to be in attendance to address residents concerns, Rotman said.
Residents are also asked to attend the Kings Point Board of Trustees meeting, which is being held at Village Hall on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.
“I would open it up to the entire (community of) Great Neck, not just Kings Point,” Rotman said of the meeting. “Obviously someone like this, if it’s true that he drove around Great Neck, isn’t limiting himself to the Village of Kings Point.”
While waiting on a bench at the bus stop on Nov. 21, the unidentified woman was approached by a man who exited a gray four-door sedan and sat on a bench near the woman, according to a county police news release.
The unidentified man then revealed a black handgun, which was previously concealed on his left hip, and ordered the woman to enter his vehicle.
Once back inside his vehicle, the man drove around the Great Neck area and repeatedly attempted to sexually assault the woman. She was later released and did not report any injuries, police said.
“Nothing else has come up,” Nassau County Police Department Detective Lieutenant Harun Begis said Monday. “We’re just peeling away all the layers of the onion right now.”
The abductor is described as a white male in his 50s with a medium build and short salt and pepper hair. He was wearing dark glasses at the time of the incident and has a space between his teeth.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
“It seems to be an isolated incident right now,” said Begis, who is the commanding officer of the 6th Precinct Detectives Division. “We don’t believe we have some kind of serial person going out doing something like this.”
Still, Begis said he would caution residents to be safe when waiting at bus stops.
“As always, common sense should prevail,” Begis said. “Try to stay in well-lit areas, that kind of thing. If they can walk in pairs, I know that’s not always realistic, but there’s always safety in numbers.”
Since the incident, Rotman has been critical of Kings Point officials, who she said did not alert the public quickly enough about the abduction.
“They waited five days to tell the public,” Rotman said. “A lot of people, I don’t think, are even aware because people were away or preoccupied with family. My concern is how are they getting this information?”
Rotman said that the Kings Point Web site could have been quickly updated with “real-time information” to alert residents about the abduction. She said this information could have included tips for “if you saw the individual, if you came into contact with the individual, how to protect yourself.”
“I think it’s the duty of our public officials to make residents alert that there may be danger in the area,” Rotman said. “I think that’s what we all expect out of our villages. It takes minimal effort and it is very cost effective to put it on your Web site.”
“As far as I can tell,” she added, “none of those things are being done by any organization.”
But, Rotman said police are doing a good job with the investigation and residents should not feel any further concern in regards to the abduction.
“I don’t think they should be distressed,” she said. “I think they should be aware and they should be made aware.”
Efforts to reach Kings Point Police Department Commissioner Jack Miller were unavailing.
Reach reporter John Santa by e-mail at jsanta@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x203
