Holly MatkinBronx, NY – A convicted felon who previously served time for trying to murder a New York police officer was released from jail without bail despite having bashed another officer in the head in a new attack on Sunday, according to police.
“Arrested in ‘08 for the attempted murder of a police officer, the same man was again arrested Sun. for attacking a #Bronx cop from behind. Late last night, this violent criminal was released without bail,” New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Dermot Shea angrily tweeted on Monday.
“Do we have to wait for him to kill someone before this is taken seriously?” he asked.
Isus Thompson, 38, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2008 after he was convicted of stabbing an NYPD officer at a playground in Forest Hills, the New York Post reported.
The 2008 attack occurred after an officer stumbled upon Thompson smoking marijuana at the park after it had closed for the day.
The officer walked the suspect to his patrol vehicle, where Thompson pulled out a knife and jabbed him in the abdomen, slashing his shirt and hitting his ballistic vest, according to prosecutors.
The suspect fled on foot, but was apprehended shortly thereafter, the New York Post reported.
Thompson served just two years of his five-year sentence before he was released onto parole.
His parole status expired in 2015, the New York Post reported.
NYPD Officer Kyo Sun Lee, 30, was standing out on East 194th Street near Valentine Avenue at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 14 when Thompson attacked him from behind, according to police.
Investigators said Thompson randomly bashed Officer Lee in the head using a backpack containing a small metal safe, a DVD player, and several adult videos, the New York Post reported.
Police later learned the suspect was also carrying a boxcutter.
Officer Lee was transported to North Central Bronx Hospital to be evaluated and was later released to recover from his back and head injuries at home, the New York Post reported.
During a brief interview outside his house Monday night, Officer Lee said the attack was “totally unexpected,” according to the paper.
“I saw him approach and we didn’t make direct eye contact. He saw me and I saw him. It seemed like he was very determined, his focus was straight ahead,” Officer Lee recalled. “He seemed like he was going to walk across the street … I was looking at him from an angle and turned to see my partner’s back. As I turned on an angle, that’s when he came…”
Thompson also allegedly tried to fight off the offers who took him into custody.
He has been charged with three counts of assault, at least one of which is a felony, as well as resisting arrest, weapon possession, and harassment, the New York Post reported.
Investigators said Thompson also admitted to having attacked Officer Lee, according to WNBC.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Office could have asked for bail in Thompson’s case, but they only asked the judge for supervised release, the New York Post reported.
The judge signed off on the prosecution’s request, allowing Thompson to be released from lockup without having to put up any funds.
He will be required to check in with the court periodically while the case is pending, according to the New York Post.
Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said the fact that the suspect was allowed to walk out of jail without bond despite his history of violently attacking police officers is evidence that the city’s criminal justice system is broken and “needs a complete overhaul,” the New York Post reported.
“Our legislators, prosecutors and judges all need to stop pointing fingers and passing the buck, because they’re putting both cops and our communities at risk,” Lynch said.
