A poll worker on Long Island was arrested on Election Day for scuffling with voters, hours after he told a supervisor he “asked for the respect of the people,” authorities said.
According to police and a criminal complaint, Mark Sebesta, 54, grabbed a 25-year-old “voter” after a series of bizarre interactions inside the polling place at Oceanside School 3 around 3:19 p.m. He is said to have pushed her away and became enraged. .
During the argument, the enraged worker displayed a gold shield and handcuffs and shouted that he was a federal and Secret Service agent, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors said that when police were called to the scene in Oceanside and tried to calm Sebesta down, Sebesta claimed to be law enforcement and pushed the officer, forcing him to the ground, but Sebesta still held him. He reportedly continued to resist arrest.
It's unclear what led to the altercation.
But hours earlier, poll coordinators noticed that Sebesta was acting “very strange and odd” after changing clothes multiple times and when ordered to stay indoors. “Please leave me alone,” I told the coordinator.
Sebesta, a Baldwin resident, also boasted to the manager that he worked as a narcotics agent and bail officer, sporting an NYPD hat and a pair of handcuffs, according to the complaint.
The suspect reportedly said, “I request the public to be respectful at the scene.''
A Nassau County Police Department spokeswoman said Sebesta does not work in law enforcement.
Sebesta was indicted on Wednesday on numerous charges, including impersonation, obstruction of government, intimidation and harassment.
The next court date is set for November 20th.
Police said the victim was not injured and there was no delay in voting.
In a video posted to Instagram, Sebesta threatened to sue Nassau County and the Oceanside School District for $1.5 million.
“Hello, everyone. You may have noticed that I made famous the Nassau County, New York, police department for assaulting Jews,” he said, his eyes bandaged.
“You're going to drop whatever charges you've filed, any charges of false accusation, or you're going to pay, all those people out there… You're going to keep paying me forever.”
In another Instagram video before the altercation, Sebesta boasted about working on polls while protecting his presidential ambitions.
“I come to the polling station from 5:30 a.m. and watch the votes cast.” [and] I’m going to make sure everyone there is voting, including me,” Sebesta said.
“I'm proud to be a part of it. I hope to one day run for president…in 2028.”
