Cops arrest student in bullying cases

A Centereach High School student spewing anti-white epithets physically bullied a classmate, Suffolk Police said Friday in announcing the student's arrest.

Police Friday afternoon arrested the student, Maurice McCray, 17, of Centereach, on aggravated harassment and menacing charges, police said.

According to police anti-hate-crime investigators, McCray, of Gaynor Road, "on several occasions" spoke the racist language while shoving the victim and once brandished a knife at the student during class.

Police did not say what slur or slurs McCray allegedly said.

He's scheduled to be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.

No working telephone number could be found for McCray or his family.

A defense attorney listed in court records as representing McCray on a November 2009 criminal case in Suffolk County, Frederick Brewington of Hempstead, said he hasn't been formally retained for Friday's arrest but said he was looking into the case and didn't have enough information to comment.

The 2009 case, in which McCray was charged with child endangerment, resulted Oct. 29 in an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, according to court records, meaning the existence of the case could be sealed next April.

School officials could not immediately be reached for comment.