Stony Brook gynecologist slapped by man at conference says he WILL press criminal charges

The Stony Brook University Cancer Center doctor who was violently slapped during a medical conference late last month says he will indeed press criminal charges - but refused to address the attacker's claims that he 'sexually assaulted' his wife in 2016. 

'The only thing that's obvious is that I was assaulted on video,' Dr. William Burke told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview at his home in Setauket on Sunday. 

The director of gynecologic oncology, 53, spoke out while gardening in the backyard of his tony estate near the Long Island Sound. 

He was joined by a woman believed to be his wife who was helping him with the yardwork.

Speaking to DailyMail.com outside his Setauket, Long Island home with a woman believed to be his wife on Sunday, Dr. William Burke confirmed he will be pressing charges against his attacker

Burke, the director of gynecologic oncology at Stony Brook University Cancer Center, responded to the incident while doing gardening work with his partner at his tony estate 

In a now viral video, an irate man is seen approaching the podium to slap Burke multiple times while hurling insults at him and accusing him of sexually assaulting his wife at a ACOG in Baltimore on May 20 

Asked whether he will pursue criminal charges, Burke replied, without hesitation: 'I will be.'

The physician, however, was less forthcoming when asked about the allegations made by the angry man in the audience and denied knowing him. 

'I don't know who he is,' Burke replied. 'I don't know his name.'

He also would not confirm whether or not he knew the man's wife, or had any prior relationship with her. 

He referred those questions and all others to a spokesperson for Stony Brooke University, though he teased: 'There's more to come.'

Although Burke initially declined to press charges, a Baltimore police spokesman told DailyMail.com on Monday that the doctor has up to a year to change his mind. 

If he wishes to proceed, he would have to file a new statement of charges detailing what happened to the city's Court Commissioner's Office. 

Police, with evidence that would include the video, would then execute an arrest and likely charge the perpetrator with common assault, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. 

The attack took place on May 20 in Baltimore, where the doctor was serving as a panelist on the podium during the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). 

Burke did not respond to his attacker's allegations and denied knowing who the man was when asked by DailyMail.com 

He also would not confirm whether or not he knew the man's wife, or had any prior relationship with her

The 53-year-old physician lives at a white, tony estate near the Long Island Sound 

The acoustics of the room and nearby microphone ensure that every word is crystal clear for all to hear, with even the crack of each slap against Burke's face reverberating around the meeting room. 

The audience member, who has not been named, could be seen grabbing the doctor by his shirt before slapping him with his hand.

The confrontation was captured on video and has since gone viral.

'This mother****** sexually assaulted my wife seven years ago,' the man shouted.

Burke was serving as a panelist at an annual conference for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) when the incident took place

'You know what you did. You touched my wife seven years ago in New York. Don't be an a******. B****!'

The furious man goes on to declare the assault on the doctor as retaliation for men who harm women in such a manner. 

'This is for all men who sexually assault women,' he continues. 'Be a f***ing man!'

He also claimed his wife has been suffering due to his alleged predatory actions. 

When a woman is heard calling for security, the defiant man becomes further enraged, challenging:  'You can call security, the police! I don't give a f***!' 

At one point, an individual off-camera can be heard laughing prompting the audience member to return to the panelists' table and confront the doctor once again. 

'Seven years I've been waiting for this. Seven years! My wife is suffering because you are a f***ing predator,' he continues. 

'And you know what you did! Don't be a f***ing b***h! You touched my wife! This a****** like to touch women.' 

Burke was at a medical conference in Baltimore on May 20 when the furious man approached the doctor on the podium and slapped him across the face several times

When a woman called out for security, the defiant man retorted: 'You can call security, the police! I don't give a f***!'

Stony Brook Medicine Cancer Center where Dr. William M Burke is the director of gynecologic oncology 

The incident led to a police investigation after officers were called to the conference center to handle the physical assault.

Following the conference, ACOG issued a statement apologizing for the incident.

'Security protocols were followed, and the situation was rapidly addressed by plainclothes security and eventually the Baltimore Police Department. 

'We apologize to those who may have been affected by the incident or subsequent exchanges. ACOG does not condone violence in any form,' the ACOG said in a statement.

It goes on: 'We recognize that those who witnessed the incident in person or online may have experienced trauma as a result, including many of you who have experienced sexual assault or other violence in the past.' 

The doctor who was assaulted declined to press charges or file a report against the man, preferring instead that the husband be simply escorted off the premises, according to the Baltimore Police Department. 

• Do you know who the mystery 'attacker' is? Email tips to [email protected].