Thursday, July 6, 2023

Hate Crime Charges After Coffee, Anti-Gay Slur Hurled In Port Washington, NY

A coffee was tossed at a man's chest outside a Starbucks, police say. The man who threw the cup also said an anti-gay slur, police say.

By Michael DeSantis, Patch Staff
Thursday July 6, 2023

Read the original article on Patch: https://patch.com/new-york/portwashington/hot-coffee-hurled-man-ruled-lgbtq-hate-crime-port-washington-pd

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — A man was arrested after police said he threw a hot cup of coffee at another man and called him an anti-gay slur outside a Starbucks in Port Washington on Saturday.

Matthew Rowlinson, 26, of Port Washington, walked up to a 21-year-old man outside the coffee shop, at 72 Main Street, and threw the hot beverage at his chest, Port Washington police. He yelled an anti-gay slur and then left, police said.

Rowlinson was arrested Wednesday without incident, police said.

He faces charges of third-degree assault as a hate crime and second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime. He was issued an appearance ticket and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court, at 99 Main St., Hempstead, on July 20.