Holly MatkinBronx, NY – Two New York police officers were sucker-punched by two different suspects as a third officer was attempting to subdue a combative robbery suspect on Tuesday night (video below).
One of the attacks was captured on video by a bystander.
The incident began on the sidewalk near Davidson Avenue and 183rd Street in University Heights, the New York Post reported.
Two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers had responded to the area to apprehend 27-year-old alleged robbery suspect, Yoemdy Castro.
Cell phone footage showed Castro lying on the sidewalk as one of the officers placed him into handcuffs.
His partner watched over the arrest from just feet away as a crowd of onlookers began heckling the officers.
Meanwhile, a man wearing a medical mask moved in behind him, then abruptly slugged the unsuspecting officer in the side of his head, the video showed.
The blow knocked the officer’s hat off of his head, and he immediately drew his Taser and appeared to fire it at his attacker.
The suspect managed to evade him and took off running down the middle of the street as onlookers encouraged his effort to get away.
“Run! Run!” the bystanders screamed, as the officer chased the suspect down the roadway.
Police ultimately apprehended the attacker, 31-year-old Nelson Jimenez, inside a bodega, the New York Post reported.
At some point during the incident, another NYPD officer was also punched in the head by a different suspect.
Police identified that attacker as 25-year-old Brandee Isom, who has since been charged with obstructing governmental administration and assault.
Charges against Jimenez are pending.
The Sergeant’s Benevolent Association (SBA) shared the video of the attack on Twitter.
“NYC people are dying, and suffering as COVID-19 plagues thousands but the same scumbags continue to roam the streets of NYC and attack NYPD cops,” the SBA wrote. “Sadly the wrong people are suffering. Welcome to DeBlasios NYC.”
You can watch cell phone footage of Jimenez’s attack on the officer in the video below: