Waiter apologizes for Arabic chant at weddingBY MATTHEW CHAYES |
matthew.chayes@newsday.com9:08 PM EST, January 10, 2009
The waiter who marred a Jewish wedding reception by blaring recorded Arabic chants apologized Saturday, hours after being arraigned on a felony hate-crime charge.
Stephen Buttafuoco said he didn't know that his cell-phone recording of a pro-Palestinian rally he was playing for a friend was also being broadcast over the reception hall's loudspeaker for hundreds of guests at the Woodbury Jewish Center. Police say those who heard it became alarmed that a terrorist attack was imminent.
"The actions I took were not very well thought through, but they were definitely not meant to be malicious in any way, shape or form," said Buttafuoco, 23, of West Babylon. He said he was sorry for causing "any fear or harm."
Nassau police said that final prayers at the reception Jan. 4 were interrupted by Buttafuoco playing the recording he'd made in Manhattan a day earlier.
....
He denied earlier reports by police that he may convert to Islam. Buttafuoco,
whose father is a born-again Christian pastor, said
he is not related to Joey Buttafuoco.
FULL STORY
>>>Olive Garden
Previous Topic
Index
