Teen slashed opponent with knife during game, police say

A Uniondale teen slashed another teen in the face with a knife after becoming “irate” during a basketball game Sunday evening in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Nassau County police said.

Xavier Dickson, 17, of Front Street, was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon. He was given a conditional release to the county probation department at arraignment Monday in First District Court in Hempstead, police said.

The victim, also 17, was taken to a hospital, where police said he required 20 stitches to close a gash to the upper left side of his face.

Police said the two teens were among a group playing basketball at Field No. 2 at Eisenhower at about 6:30 p.m. when Dickson “became irate” — and slashed the victim’s face with a folding knife. Dickson then tried to flee, police said, but was “apprehended by witnesses” and held for police.

It was not clear what ignited the incident.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”