A driver has been arrested after his vehicle ran over two Black Lives Matter protesters in Long Island.
Anthony Cambareri, 36, was driving a Toyota Rav4 on Broadway at approximately 6.45pm on Monday which hit protesters who were ‘standing in the roadway’, according to police.
Cops added that Cambareri ‘fled the scene’ before being arrested a short time later.
A video of the aftermath shows one of the people hit by Cambareri’s car being tended to by police. Cops were then seen surrounding the car as Cambareri sat in the driver’s seat.
A driver has been arrested after his vehicle ran over two Black Lives Matter protesters in Long Island. Pictured: A grab from a video showing the aftermath of the incident
The pedestrians were left with non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Huntingdon Hospital, police said.
According to witnesses speaking to Newsday, between 25 and 30 demonstrators were marching when they were hit by the gray Toyota.
‘In my head, I thought he’s going to stop, but he didn’t stop at all,’ said Chris McCain, 29, from Freeport. ‘For this to happen on Long Island is crazy.’
Another protester, Tiandre Tuosto, 25, said he jumped out of the way when the Toyota hit a fellow demonstrator, sending him to the ground.
The victim has trouble walking afterwards and was taken to hospital, Mr Tuosto said.
The second injured man was hit in the knee and also taken away in an ambulance.
Anthony Cambareri, 36, was driving a Toyota Rav4 on Broadway at approximately 6.45pm on Monday when he hit protesters who were ‘standing in the roadway’, according to police. Pictured: Video shows the moment of the man’s arrest
Cambareri was charged with third-degree assault and was issued a desk appearance.
Cops added that the man will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
Cambareri was not injured and his Toyota car has been impounded.
A video filmed shortly afterwards shows one of the injured protesters sitting on the sidewalk.
Surrounding him are cops and other demonstrators who are shouting at officers.
The demonstrators appeared to be upset at other footage which showed cops talking to Cambareri after his car allegedly hit protesters.
A video of the aftermath of the incident showed other demonstrators confronting cops. They appeared to be upset at other footage which showed cops talking to Cambareri after his car allegedly hit protesters. One of them (right), said through a megaphone, ‘this is what we are talking about. The disparity between how police treat white people and black people’
One of them said, ‘you saw him, you observed him [the arresting officer] having a casual conversation before you ripped him out of the car.’
The man then said through a megaphone, ‘this is what we are talking about. The disparity between how police treat white people and black people.
‘This is what I am talking about. They had a three to five minute conversation with the guy before they gently got him out of the car and nicely put him into the police cruiser.
The person filming then said, ‘he slammed on the gas just to hit us.’
A third video shows the injured man leaving hospital. He is seen being embraced by fellow demonstrators and his arm and hand is covered in a bandage.
A third video shows the injured man leaving hospital. He is seen being embraced by fellow demonstrators and his arm and hand is covered in a bandage
Suffolk County police said in a statement: ‘Suffolk County Police today arrested a man after he struck two Black Lives Matter protesters in Huntington Station this evening.
‘Anthony Cambareri was operating a 2018 Toyota RAV4 westbound on Broadway when he struck two protesters who were standing in the roadway at approximately 6:45 p.m.
‘The pedestrians were transported to Huntington Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
‘Cambareri was not injured and the vehicle was impounded for a safety check.
‘Cambareri, 36, of 24 Gabon Lane, Coram, was charged with Assault 3rd Degree. He was issued a Desk Appearance Ticket and will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.’