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Mostly Cloudy Long Beach Dunkin’ Donuts employee attacked
Police search for suspect who slashed man in the face
Police are searching for a Long Beach man accused of a violent assault at a local Dunkin’ Donuts in the West End on Sunday at 10 p.m.
According to Long Beach Police Commissioner Mike Tangney, the Long Beach and Nassau County police departments are seeking the public's help to find 23-year-old Derrick D. Patten after he allegedly slashed a male employee in the face at the Dunkin’ Donuts at 1070 W. Beech St.
According to Tangney, Patten approached the counter and after a brief confrontation cut the man's face, an incident that was captured on the store’s security camera. The victim was taken to a local hospital and required 80 stitches. Tangney said the incident is believed to have started over a girl, though police said that the victim did not provoke the attack. Tangney said Patten cut the man under the left eye to the edge of his nose.
“You can see he’s angry with the guy and then he steps away from the counter apparently to get the box cutter out of his hoodie,” Tangney said of Patten. “He puts one hand over the counter and cuts the guy right across the face.”
Police said Patten, whose last known address was at 57 B E. Pine St., fled the store in an unknown direction. He is described as a black male with brown eyes, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and approximately 190 pounds with long, black and braided hair. He was last seen wearing dark clothing with a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt. Patten is also known to wear thick-rimmed eyeglasses.
Tangney said that Patten has been arrested in the past. In November 2013, he was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and criminal mischief at Long Beach Police Department headquarters for an offense he committed 11 months earlier, Tangney said.
Patten is wanted for first-degree assault for last Sunday’s attack, and Nassau County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest. Detectives request anyone with information to contact the Long Beach Police Department’s confidential tip line at 516-705-7370 or Nassau Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
