Assault Allegations at Lithium-Ion Battery Facility in Queens
City Councilman Phil Wong reported that a member of his staff was assaulted by a contractor at a disputed lithium-ion battery facility in Queens.
This week, Wong called for an investigation after his employees faced two assaults at a construction site located at 69th Street near 65th Drive in Middle Village.
“No contractor is above the law,” he expressed with frustration.
According to Wong, on Wednesday, his staff member Bernie Chow, 59, was pushed to the ground by the president of GA Industries, a contractor linked to the storage facility and owned by Nine Dot Energy.
The councilman’s office stated that Chow was filming the site while officials from the Building Department were present to issue a “partial work stoppage order.”
Wong noted, “Staff members were recording the activity from a public sidewalk,” adding that Chow suffered head injuries during the incident.
The following day, Chow returned and was again shoved to the ground and tackled by another contractor, in a shocking altercation that was caught on video, as reported by the councilman.
This incident left Chow with a head injury that wasn’t noticed until about 20 minutes after authorities departed. He later sought medical attention, resulting in an overnight observation at the hospital before his release, according to Wong’s office.
A spokesperson from the New York City Police Department confirmed that they are currently investigating both incidents, following two harassment complaints, though no arrests have yet been made.
“Public servants should never be allowed to ignore stop-work orders or respond with threats or violence while conducting oversight,” Wong stated in a press release.
Wong claimed that the Department of Buildings (DOB) suspended operations on the project indefinitely after various violations of the stop-work order were confirmed and initiated an investigation against the contractor.
The council union expressed its support for Wong’s staff, stating, “City council workers work every day to support their constituents. They should not face violence while doing their jobs. We wish our colleague a full and speedy recovery.”
As of now, GA Industries and the DOB have yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the situation.
