Charges dropped against ex-Rockville Centre police officer

A former Rockville Centre police officer was cleared of all charges Wednesday after being accused of secretly recording his ex-girlfriend during a sexual encounter and sending the video of the encounter to her on Snapchat.
Christopher Stafford, 28, had been sworn in as an officer with the Rockville Centre Police Department less than a year before felony charges of second-degree unlawful surveillance were brought against him this past February.
Stafford’s lawyer had argued that the relationship, as well as the video of the sexual incident, were consensual.
The Nassau District Attorney's Office dropped all charges against Stafford, citing a lack of evidence that the video in question was taken without the woman's knowledge.
Stafford was arrested during his probationary period with the police department.
The village says a decision was made to terminate the rookie officer.
Defense attorney William Petrillo says the woman pressed charges because Stafford was trying to break up with her.
“It is very clear what happened here. This was a relationship that Mr. Stafford was ending and this was a knee-jerk reaction. This false complaint made by the complainant was a knee-jerk reaction to a breakup,” said Petrillo.
Petrillo told News 12 that he and Stafford will fight to get him back on the force.
The identity of Stafford's ex-girlfriend was never released. Right now, it's not known if any legal action will be taken against her.