Man acquitted of disorderly conduct at Yonkers casino

A Long Island man who was arrested in Yonkers after allegedly causing a disturbance at the Empire City Casino was cleared of all charges Friday. Patrick O?Neal, of Roosevelt, N.Y., says a surveillance

News 12 Staff

Feb 22, 2009, 12:05 AM

Updated 5,702 days ago

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A Long Island man who was arrested in Yonkers after allegedly causing a disturbance at the Empire City Casino was cleared of all charges Friday.
Patrick O?Neal, of Roosevelt, N.Y., says a surveillance video that captured his arrest in 2007 helped prove his innocence in court.
The footage shows O?Neal being tackled by police officers at the Empire City Casino in Yonkers. Police claimed he was behaving in a disorderly manner and disturbing other patrons. O'Neal disagrees.
?I was just having fun, having a great time,? he says. ?I was actually winning money.?
O?Neal?s attorney, Edward Paltzick, says the videotape proved his client?s innocence. During the portion of the tape the prosecution claimed demonstrated O?Neal?s disorderly behavior, other patrons did not turn around.
?The prosecution video backfired,? Paltzick says. ?It undercut the theory he was disturbing the other customers.?