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Shortly before 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 10, police were dispatched to the Equestrian Center following a call from a man - later identified as Mario E. Lucas-Gonzalez - who reported that he and his brother were being assaulted by a coworker.
Upon arrival, police said that they observed a man walking away from the horse stables with a metal bat in his hand. The man, who identified himself as Benjamin Delacuesta-Ortega of Stamford, Conn., was handcuffed for officer safety and later identified as the assault suspect.
Responding officers reported that there were various injuries to Delacuesta-Ortega’s victim’s face and back. It was explained to police, through a translator, that the two worked together and had gotten into an argument the day before and again on the day in question that then proceeded to turn physical.
The victim, Leopoldo Lucas-Gonzalez, told police that the argument was over a work-related issue, and that Delacuesta-Ortega was “getting upset that the victim wouldn’t close the stable doors behind him when transporting horses.”
According to police, Lucas-Gonzalez stated that after the verbal altercation, Delacuesta-Ortega struck him in the face with a plastic pitchfork. He then struck him with a broom in the area of his left eye, causing the broom shaft to split into two pieces on impact. Lucas-Gonzalez suffered bruising and swelling to his left eye and was bleeding from his lip from the pitchfork.
Delacuesta-Ortega then grabbed his victim and threw him into one of the horse stables, startling a horse, who proceeded to kick Lucas-Gonzalez in the back, causing bruising, swelling and an abrasion. Lucas-Gonzalez was able to contact his brother, who arrived with a friend and called 911. Delacuesta-Ortega then allegedly left the stable and returned with the metal bat.
Police said that after probable cause was established, Delacuesta-Ortega was arrested and Lucas-Gonzalez was transported to the Westchester Medical Center for treatment.
Delacuesta-Ortega was arrested and charged with a felony count of second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use, a misdemeanor. A Temporary Order of Protection was also issued to Leopoldo Lucas-Gonzalez against Delacuesta-Ortega. He was remanded to the Westchester County Jail and is due back in court later this year.
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