Man reportedly arrested following Old Westbury runoff election

Bill San Antonio

An Old Westbury man was reportedly arrested following a runoff trustee election last Tuesday for allegedly returning to Village Hall hours after he voted and refusing to leave.

Michael Ostad, 46, was charged with obstructing governmental administration, trespass, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to a Newsday report.

Ostad was reportedly told by a police inspector to leave Village Hall multiple times following the closing of polls at 9 p.m., but he instead asked the officer to show him proof that he was not legally allowed to be at the property.

Ostad reportedly attempted to step toward the officer, “got into his face and chest bumped” him, and began to “scream, curse, flail his arms in a violent manner” and yelled “do not touch me, and get off me.”

The inspector and a police sergeant then attempted to remove Ostad, but he reportedly refused and resisted being handcuffed.

Ostad, who could not be reached for comment on this story, was then taken to village police headquarters and arraigned the next day.

According to Newsday, the inspector reported swelling and pain in his left hand, and the sergeant felt pain in her right forearm.

Leslie Fastenberg opposed incumbent village trustee Andrew Weinberg in the runoff, following a tie in their initial June 16 election.

Fastenberg led Weinberg by 249 votes, but absentee votes had not yet been counted.

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