East Islip man charged with assaulting employees at Sayville movie theater

An East Islip man was arrested Tuesday and charged with attacking two movie theater employees in Sayville, Suffolk County police said in a news release.

Police allege that Donald Ahlers, Jr., 55, grabbed and squeezed a female employee’s neck outside Sayville Cinemas on Railroad Avenue on Saturday during an altercation at about 9:40 p.m. When a 16-year-old employee intervened, Ahlers allegedly punched the teenager and grabbed at his eye, police said.

Ahlers Jr., who had been a customer at the theater, was identified following an investigation and arrested at the Fifth Precinct Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Police said Ahlers, Jr. had become upset when he couldn’t find two seats together in the theater. He left the theater voluntarily but after he threw a stanchion, police said the female employee went outside to investigate the problem and a confrontation ensued.

Ahlers Jr. was charged with third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was released on his own recognizance after his arraignment on Wednesday in front of Judge Rosann Orlando at First District Court in Central Islip, according to court records. Ahlers Jr. is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County.