A RETIRED NEW York police officer has been charged with exposing himself at a Manhattan subway station, before pulling his gun on a member of the public who was filming him.
Steven D Esposito, 56, was arraigned on Wednesday morning on charges of public lewdness, exposure and second-degree menacing with a weapon, court records show.
That came after an incident on Monday night, when, according to an NYPD report sent to TheJournal.ie:
A 38-year-old female was on the south-bound platform of the N and R [lines], at the 5th Avenue Station, when she heard a hissing noise beside her.
When she looked to see what the noise was, she observed the suspect manipulating his penis outside of his pants.
After he left the station, the 38-year-old woman began crying, and a 41-year-old man asked her what was wrong.
When she explained what had just happened, the bystander followed the suspect and began filming with his mobile phone.
The police report adds:
As the suspect reached the exit to the station, he pulled out a black handgun, pointed at Victim #2 and told him to mind his own business. The suspect then exited the station.
According to the New York Daily News, Esposito told investigators he was urinating during the incident, and not masturbating, as has been claimed by the woman on the platform.
After releasing the video below, and appealing to the public for help, NYPD investigators tracked down the retired officer, and charged him on Wednesday.
Esposito, who is from Staten Island, is due back in court on 1 December.
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