Family: Race was a factor in fatal boat crash probe; Nassau PD denies any cover-up

Relatives and friends of a man killed in a boating accident off Freeport held a demonstration Friday outside Nassau County Police Headquarters – alleging a tainted investigation into the incident.

News 12 Staff

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Aug 14, 2020, 7:04 PM

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Updated 1,614 days ago

Relatives and friends of a man killed in a boating accident off Freeport held a demonstration Friday outside Nassau County Police Headquarters – alleging a tainted investigation into the incident.

On Aug. 1, Jorge Soto Monge, 25, was killed and several others were injured when two boats collided in Freeport Creek. The crash happened with such force that the boat Jorge was riding in was split in half. A woman involved in the crash had her leg amputated.

MORE: Officials: 1 person dies after boat crash in Freeport Creek

Relatives of the victim say they were never visited by Nassau police and say the driver of the other boat, who is white, has been given every benefit of the doubt along the way. They allege investigators might be shielding the other boat operator because of a personal or political connection.

The family members, who are of Salvadoran descent, along with Assemblyman Phil Ramos, who is a retired police officer, say race has been a factor throughout the investigation.

“Why are police officers in this case…why are they twisting themselves into a pretzel to try and defend the Caucasian perpetrator?” asked the assemblyman.

He says Monge's family has been treated with “indifference” by authorities.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder insisted “there is no cover-up.”

He says a full crash reconstruction was performed, 10 witnesses were interviewed, and everyone was tested for drugs and alcohol. Ryder says no criminality was found.

“There is nothing that has to do with immigration at all. We don't recognize what the color of one’s skin or what their race is when they get involved in an accident. A victim is a victim to us,” he said.