Police

DA: All but two charges dropped in Laurel case

CHARLIE TUMINO PHOTO | The scene after Jordan Gormez allegedly resisted arrest in Laurel last month.

All but two charges have been dropped in the case of a 24-year-old Shirley man arrested last month for allegedly attacking a female companion and then reaching for a responding police officer’s gun at a Laurel gas station, authorities said.

Jordan Gormez was initially arrested for felony criminal mischief and attempted grand larceny, resisting arrest, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and four counts of second degree harassment. He now faces just two charges, resisting arrest and criminal mischief, and has pleaded guilty to both, said Bob Clifford, a spokesman for Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota.

“We were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the felony criminal mischief in the third degree charge, since it is dependent on the cooperation of the defendant’s girlfriend, who did not cooperate,” he said of Mr. Gormez’s companion, who was allegedly choked during the Sept. 12 altercation.

“The defendant was a passenger in his girlfriend’s vehicle and during an argument, allegedly kicked and broke her windshield,” Mr. Clifford said. “She stopped at the Laurel gas station and the defendant allegedly choked her. A court officer and his wife driving behind them pulled into the gas station, saw the altercation … and called police.”

When police arrived, Mr. Gormez fled and, when caught by police, got into a physical altercation and attempted to take the officer’s gun, according to the original police report. The off-duty court officer assisted Southold police in subduing and arresting Mr. Gormez, police reported.

“The girlfriend told the DA she would not comply with a subpoena to appear before a grand jury and would not work with law enforcement in any matter,” Mr. Clifford said of the case. “She asked that the order of protection be dropped, the court complied and the order was vacated.”

When he returns to court on Nov. 30, Mr. Gormez is scheduled to be sentenced to seven months in the county jail, officials said.

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