The father of a 12-year-old boy wants more serious charges against a man accused of tackling his son and stealing his cellphone in Dix Hills.
William Conte, who was seen on a cellphone video knocking down Alex Anderson, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of harassment and criminal mischief.
According to the boy’s father Christian Anderson, the altercation happened while his son and his friends were riding their bikes on Old Brook Road in Dix Hills. Anderson says his son became upset when the woman in the car, Conte's wife, started filming him with her cellphone.
Anderson says the woman overreacted and Conte was out of line.
“You don't tackle someone, a 12-year-old boy. You just don't do that,” he said.
However, neighbors told News 12 that the teens circled Conte's wife's car and were taunting her while her two young children were also in the car.
Neighbor Michael Shain says the teens threw a snake at the woman in the car. Shain says when Conte heard his wife beeping the horn and screaming for help, he rushed over.
“It was crazy. That poor woman and the husband, they were put in a very bad position,” said Shain.
William Conte pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Anderson says the allegations against his son are false. He says a snake was never thrown, and that the truth would come out in court.
Conte's next court date is Oct. 2.