Middle Island nursing assistant charged with forcibly touching disabled patient at rehab site

A certified nursing assistant forcibly touched a female disabled patient at a Middle Island rehabilitation center on two separate occasions before he was arrested this weekend, police said.

Kevin Lopez-Diaz, 23, of Farmingville was arrested at Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing, located at 49 Oakcrest Ave., about 3:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Police said Lopez-Diaz inappropriately touched a 32-year-old patient at the facility on Sept. 3 and again on Sept. 4. A second certified nursing assistant learned of the incidents from the patient and called 911, cops said.

The patient was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital on Sept. 5 for an evaluation.

Lopez-Diaz pleaded not guilty in Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday to first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person and two counts of forcible touching. He was released without needing post bail.

Suffolk Police are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim of Lopez-Diaz to contact Suffolk Police’s Sixth Squad at 631.854.8652. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1.800.220.TIPS or at P3Tips.com; tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

_{Top: Kevin Lopez-Diaz (provided by Suffolk Police).}