Long Beach police commissioner accused of punching motorist

A Syosset man has accused Long Beach Police Commissioner Michael Tangney of punching him in the face in Long Beach on Tuesday, allegations that Tangney strongly denied.

The incident occurred just hours before the City Council appointed Tangney acting city manager, and the city on Friday said that the incident is under investigation.

Kevin Holian, a 64-year-old retired IRS employee, said he was traveling on West Beech Street at around 10 a.m. when a man in a silver Lexus SUV — later identified as Tangney — began excessively honking his horn and screaming profanities, Holian’s attorney, Chora Ezdrin, said at a news conference on Friday.

Holian, who spoke to reporters on a conference call, said he pulled over at the intersection of West Beech Street and Edwards Boulevard. He got out of his vehicle and approached Tangney’s vehicle “to see what was going on,” Ezdrin added.

“As I started to approach his vehicle, he got out of his vehicle screaming at me to 'get back in the car or I will shoot you,'” Holian said. “I feared for my life and I got back into my car.”

Holian said he returned to his car and took photographs of Tangney’s vehicle with his cellphone.

“As I sat in my car, he approached my driver’s side window demanding my hands remain on the wheel, but asking for my license and registration at the same time,” Holian said. “As I reached for the glove compartment to retrieve my registration, I felt a sharp pain to the left side of my face. At this point I realized I was just struck by him.”

Tangney, a 40-year-member of the Police Department, has strongly denied the allegations. He told Newsday on Thursday that he never reached into Holian’s vehicle and only handled his license and registration.

“I will be vindicated, and I hope he is prosecuted for filing a false statement,” said Tangney, adding that he had not been contacted by investigators.

According to Tangney, Holian got out of his SUV, was holding up his phone and told him he was recording him when Tangney approached, holding his ID, a claim that Holian denied. Tangney said he told Holian to go back to his vehicle and to produce his license.

Two witnesses, Long Beach residents Christina and Tim Kramer, told the Herald that they were behind Tangney’s vehicle and saw Tangney approach Holian in his vehicle.

“If [Holian] is saying [Tangney] just got out of his car and punched him, that definitely never happened,” Christina Kramer said.

According to Holian, Tangney drove away, and an unidentified uniformed Long Beach police officer arrived at the scene and issued him a ticket for disobeying a stop sign.

“I told that officer that the man just hit me and I’m bleeding — who is he?” Holian said. “And the officer said, ‘You’re not bleeding, and I’m the only one here. There is no one else here.’ He issued me the ticket and left.”

Tangney confirmed that he had called for a uniformed police officer to issue a traffic ticket, according to Newsday. Tangney, however, told the publication that at one point he noticed Holian was bleeding and offered to call an ambulance, but that Holian accused him of punching him.

Holian said he drove to the Nassau County Police Department precinct in Syosset and filed a complaint. County police called an ambulance, and Holian was taken to Syosset Hospital, where he was treated for a bloody nose, shortness of breath and pain, according to Newsday.

“[Holian] is suffering from some severe health issues at this point which is related to this incident,” Ezdrin said. “This has caused his blood pressure to spike, severe pain to his face, and probably other health issues that I have not had an opportunity to speak with my client about.”

At the news conference, Ezdrin presented photos of what she said was Holian’s blood on the ticket he was issued, as well as photos of Tangney getting out of his vehicle.

“My client never met Commissioner Tangney, doesn’t know him, never had any relationship with the city of Long Beach whatsoever,” Ezdrin said. “He has no reason to make up a story like this.”

Ezdrin added that Holian is not seeking to press charges and is waiting for Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas’s office to investigate.

Tangney declined to speak to the Herald on Friday. He told Newsday that he intends to continue serving as both police commissioner and acting city manager during the probe.

“Commissioner Tangney has nothing to add to yesterday’s comments,” a city spokesman said. “He will refrain from speaking further in light of the ongoing investigation.”

When asked whether the district attorney’s office is investigating the incident, a spokesman for Singas declined to comment.

Asked whether the allegations would impact Tangney's appointment as city manager, Councilman Scott Mandel said, “Right now, it’s an accusation pending further investigation, and it’s premature to make any determination.”

He added that he wasn’t speaking for other council members. Council Vice President Anthony Eramo declined to comment.

Anthony Rifilato contributed to this story.