Homeless man smashes tombstone, hurls rocks at cars, fights cops in Huntington, police say

Suffolk Police arrested a homeless man Tuesday night after he allegedly hurled rocks at passing cars, damaged a tombstone at a historic cemetery and fought with officers who responded to the scene.

Michael Laraque, 31, was standing at the edge of Huntington Rural Cemetery on New York Avenue about 6:30 p.m. throwing rocks into the street, police said. The rocks damaged three passing vehicles and shattered a window at Laura’s Dance Studio, police said.

When officers arrived, Laraque allegedly ran into the cemetery, knocking over and damaging a tombstone. He then allegedly fought with the two responding officers before they took him into custody, police said.

Laraque was charged with first-degree cemetery desecration, second-degree menacing, five counts of third-degree criminal mischief and two counts of second-degree assault.

Officers took Laraque to Huntington Hospital for evaluation. He will be arraigned at a later date at Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip.

_{Top: Huntington Rural Cemetery entrance on New York Avenue (Google Maps Street View)}