Amid an alarming spike in violence against police, New York City police officers were assaulted in three separate incidents in as many days, and two alleged attackers were released without bail by a Manhattan judge on Monday. It was done.
Shumar Green, 28, and David Daniels, 34, were placed under observation by Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Valentina Morales over the weekend after they allegedly chased a police officer on the subway, over the objections of prosecutors. Release was granted.
But Morales set bail at $10,000 for Michael Thomas, 24, of Great Neck, Long Island, who is accused of punching a police officer in the face in Times Square just after midnight Sunday. did.
According to court documents, the arresting officer said Thomas aggressively pursued him and another officer patrolling the area, claiming it was his First Amendment right to follow them. said.
The criminal complaint says Thomas persisted and continued to tail the officers for “several minutes” even after being warned twice to back off, claiming it was his right as they were public servants.
The officers asked them to stop, but Thomas instead allegedly punched one of them in the face, causing bleeding, swelling, redness and significant pain, police said.
In asking that bail be set at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office noted that Thomas had been charged twice for failing to appear in court, and had previously been charged with one felony and one misdemeanor. He noted that he has been convicted of crimes, including one, but details of those cases were not disclosed. I don’t know right away.
Instead, Morales set bail low and sent Thomas to Rikers Island at least until his next court date Friday on a charge of second-degree assault on a police officer.
Prosecutors are also seeking bail in two other cases, including an arrest made just before 3 a.m. Sunday when officers responded to a radio call about an emotionally disturbed person at the 81st Street Museum of Natural History. Green’s bail was set at $20,000 in cash or bail. Upper West Side station.
The NYPD said the officer approached Green, who became combative and began to shove him.
Police said the man elbowed one of the officers in the left side of the face. The officer was treated at a local hospital and released.
Green is charged with assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, obstruction of public administration and disorderly conduct, and is scheduled to reappear in court on March 13.
His current address is the ROW NYC Hotel on 8th Avenue, currently used as an immigrant shelter. However, police did not confirm whether he was an immigrant.
Greene’s attorney, Eliza Orlins of the Legal Aid Society, praised the judge’s decision not to impose bail, saying her client had appeared in court five times before. He pointed out that no court warrant had ever been issued.
She also cited a March 2002 New York Post article praising Greene as a “little hero” for warning her apartment neighbors about the fire that claimed the lives of her mother, sister, and brother.
“Mr. Green has been through a lot, but he certainly understands the charges against him,” Orlins said in court. “Money bail would pose an undue hardship to Mr. Green.”
Prosecutors had requested that Daniels’ bail be set at $7,500 cash or $25,000 bail on the charge of second-degree assault on a police officer.
Daniels, a Brooklyn resident, attacked a police officer when he was asked to remove him from a suspended northbound C train around 11:30 p.m. Friday, leaving one person to be treated for minor injuries. Police said he was taken to Columbia Hospital.
Speaking outside the courtroom after Daniels and Greene were released on supervised release, Police Benevolent Association union president Patrick Hendry lamented the rise in violence against New York’s Finest.
“Police officers are assaulted every day in this city,” he said.
“We cannot accept these assaults as mere statistics. We need all New Yorkers to stand with us and demand improvements to our criminal justice system.”
He called on residents who support police to “demand change in this system” from their elected leaders, which Hendry called “broken at every step.” .
He continued, “As we saw here today, a judge has allowed two people who assaulted a New York City police officer to return to the streets of New York City.”
When asked what punishment should be imposed for assaulting a police officer, Hendry unequivocally replied, “They should be in jail.”
Cops are on edge after a recent wave of attacks, including an alarming incident late last month when a group of despicable immigrants jumped two officers near Times Square and punched them as they fell to the ground. ing.
The two assaulted officers, who have not been identified, suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene. One person suffered cuts to his face and the other suffered bruises to his body, officials said.
Speaking to police officers around Times Square on Monday, some believed the spike in violence was just part of the job, while others said they were concerned about leniency at the judicial level for suspects who assaulted officers. Some warned that it would ultimately have an impact.
One police officer on patrol in Times Square said that simply wearing a badge or uniform can lead to unruly behavior.
“It’s a dangerous job. It’s always been a dangerous job.”
Another high-ranking police officer, surrounded by two patrolling officers with M4 rifles and helmets in Times Square, warned of “more and more violence” against the NYPD, potentially prompting an exodus of experienced officers. I was warned that there would be.
“More cops are going to leave. And believe me, the trained cops, the guys who can get jobs outside of the NYPD, they’re the cops you wanted to leave.” It wasn’t.
Additional reporting by Kevin Sheehan Joe Marino
