Ex-NYPD cop faces jail time after punching disabled man



Terence Corcoran,

Mario Zeoli, 50, of Southeast got in a tiff with another former cop at a Southeast gas station

SOUTHEAST – An ex-New York City cop faces possible jail time after he was convicted of pulling a gun during a dispute with a disabled man who is also a former NYPD cop.
Mario Zeoli, 50, of Southeast is to be sentenced July 22 in Town Court after his conviction for menacing, a misdemeanor, and harassment, a violation, Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy said in a statement.
Zeoli was pumping gas at a Southeast service station in August 2012 and got angry when another motorist told him to turn down his radio.
The other man, who uses hand controls to operate his car, was parked and making a phone call.
After he asked Zeoli a second time to turn his radio down, a shouting match ensued with each man declaring he was an ex-cop.
Zeoli approached the other man's car, displayed his .38-caliber revolver, then punched him several times.
The victim tried to drive away but his foot got stuck under his brake pedal, disabling the hand controls on his car.
Levy said surveillance cameras captured the incident, which was investigated by state police.
"We all understand that disagreements happen," Levy said. "But escalating a situation with violence and threats is never acceptable."
Zeoli surrendered his revolver, which he had a permit to carry, Levy said.