Ronkonkoma man committed lewd acts in car in front of women in 2 parking lots, cops say

A 20-year-old Ronkonkoma man committed lewd acts in his car while calling women over in two Suffolk parking lots earlier this month before his arrest Friday, police said.

Nicholas Critelli was taken into custody around 12:20 p.m. in a parking lot at 1230 Deer Park Ave. in Deer Park, Suffolk Police said. He was charged with two counts of second-degree public lewdness.

The first incident happened Oct. 1 at about 9:40 p.m. in the parking lot of Centereach Mall at 161 Centereach Mall in Centereach, police said. A 911 caller told Sixth Precinct officers a man was committing a lewd act inside his car while calling over a woman.

Two weeks later, on Oct. 14 at about 9:25 p.m., a 911 caller reported a similar incident in a parking lot at 98 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack, and Fourth Precinct officers responded, police said.

Fourth Squad detectives investigated and identified Critelli as the suspect, police said.

Critelli was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct. He is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday, Oct. 17, at First District Court in Central Islip.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who thinks they may have encountered Critelli is asked to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, through the P3 Tips mobile app or online at P3Tips.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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