Charges in fight at dog park dropped, authorities say

A Nassau grand jury has declined to indict a Massapequa Park man who was arrested in October after Nassau police said he punched an officer in the face at a dog park.

Lek Domni, 59, a lawyer, had been charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest and second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

A cellphone video, which captured the struggle between Domni and the officer at the Town of Oyster Bay Dog Park, may have played a crucial role in the grand jury’s March 1 decision, said Domni’s attorney, Kevin Kearon of Garden City.

“Without it, we’re not sure if we would have had the success at the grand jury stage that we did,” Kearon said.

A spokesman for the Nassau County Police Department issued a statement, saying the department was “disappointed” with the grand jury’s decision.

Police said the incident happened on Oct. 30 at 5:52 p.m., when two officers responded to a complaint that involved a dispute between dog owners at the park. Police said Domni and another dog owner had an argument about their dogs that escalated and someone called police.

It was then, police said, that Domni “became combative” and punched and elbowed one of the officers in the face. Domni, however, said he never punched the officer and the cellphone video supports his version of what happened.

On Friday, Domni filed complaints against the two officers with the police department and Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas’s office.