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Spectrum technician suspected of cutting fiber optic cables in Forest Hills not charged

July 17, 2017 By Jason Cohen

A Spectrum technician who was suspected of cutting fiber optic cables last month in Forest Hills that led to a massive internet outage has not been prosecuted, the Queens District Attorney’s office announced on Friday.

Michael Tolve, of Wantagh, LI, was arrested July 12 on a charges of criminal mischief. It was initially believed Tolve was involved in the June 26 vandalism that cut service to 60,000 Spectrum customers in Queens. The details as to why he was not prosecuted was not known at press time.

The incident took place at a time when Spectrum workers–represented by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers– were on strike. That labor dispute has yet to be resolved.

This is not the first time the Spectrum cables have been tampered since the strike began in March. Last week, 30,000 customers in central Queens lost cable when vandals damaged another fiber optic cable.

The union has denied responsibility, according to reports.

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