NJ Man Violates Order of Protection, Arrested in Baldwin for Assault, Stealing Woman’s Cell Phone

A disturbance at Coes Neck Park in Baldwin escalated into a chaotic scene on Saturday, July 13, 2024, resulting in the arrest of Horace Rattigan, a 36-year-old man from Paterson, New Jersey, according to the Nassau County Police Department. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m., when officers responded to reports of a heated argument between Rattigan and a 39-year-old woman.

According to police, the argument took a dramatic turn when Rattigan snatched the woman’s cell phone and fled the scene on foot. Officers quickly located Rattigan nearby, but the situation spiraled out of control as he resisted arrest and became violent. During the struggle, an officer sustained an injury and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Further investigation revealed that Rattigan had violated an active order of protection, adding to the seriousness of his charges.

According to court records, Rattigan was in court on February 10th of this year facing charges of harassment and criminal contempt. He was released on cashless bail after pleading not-guilty. He had multiple court dates following this initial appearance, all of which were adjourned. Rattigan now faces multiple charges, including assault, grand larceny, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest.  He was arraigned on Sunday, July 14th, at the First District Court located at 99 Main Street, Hempstead. Rattigan again pleaded not-guilty and was released on cashless bail. He is due back in court on July 31st.

Photo: NCPD.