Results tagged “offdutycop”

Early yesterday, an off-duty police officer got into an argument with a group of youths in Washington Heights and ultimately fired at them during the confrontation. According to the Post, it was a "Halloween hoax gone horribly wrong," with the youths "jumping from a large cardboard box in order to spook passers-by"—and one unhappy passer-by was the off-duty cop.

Earlier this morning, around 7 a.m., a woman was struck by a vehicle at West 232nd Street and Kingsbridge Avenue. The woman later died at St. Barnabas Hospital and now an off-duty police officer has been taken into custody.

Police officer Rafael Lora faces up to 15 years in prison after a judge found him guilty of second-degree manslaughter for a 2007 shooting. Lora was off-duty when he confronted a driver who crashed his minivan into other cars on a Bronx Street. Believing that Fermin Arzu was reaching for a gun—and claiming that Arzu hit him and that he was being dragged by the vehicle— Lora shot Arzu, who later died. The cop had opted for a bench trial, instead of a jury trial; his lawyer had said he "acted professionally and was justified on the night in question."

A judge is deliberating the fate of a police officer who, while off-duty, fatally shot a drunk driver outside his home in the Bronx. In May 2007, cop Rafael Lora confronted Fermin Arzu, who had just crashed his minivan into other cars on the street. Believing that Arzu was reaching for a gun—and claiming that Arzu hit him and that he was being dragged by the vehicle— Lora shot Arzu, who later died. Prosecutors say Lora was free when he fired at Arzu. Lora, who opted for a bench trial, does not face jail time because Bronx prosecutors lowered the charges from first-degree manslaughter to second-degree manslaughter, which carries 11 years probation. Lora testified he was so upset that he couldn't even call 911. Arzu's family's lawyer said, "Frankly rather than acting like a heroic officer to render aid, [Lora] acted with a chicken heart."

Newsday reports that the off-duty police officer who killed his wife and then himself had used his service revolver. According to Suffolk police, Francis Cole, an NYPD lieutenant, had first stabbed wife Elena in the chest with a kitchen knife in their Centereach home. Their 18-year-old daughter "tried to intervene during or just after the knife attack," but Cole hit her in the face (Newsday says it's "unclear if the blow was intentional"). He then used his .38-caliber revolver to shot his twice in the head and then turned the gun on himself. Suffolk Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick said the daughter "definitely witnessed the shooting."

An off duty NYPD lieutenant fatally shot and stabbed his wife and then turned his gun on himself yesterday afternoon in their Centereach home. Francis Cole, 48, a 19-year NYPD vet who worked at the 68th Precinct, first stabbed wife Elena, 46, in the chest and then shot her in the head. Their 18-year-old daughter tried to intervene, but Newsday reports, "he struck his daughter in the face." The daughter then called 911; Cole, who shot himself in the head, was conscious when the ambulance arrived but he died at the hospital. Suffolk County police Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick says there was "a general atmosphere of trouble," because the couple were getting divorced. Neighbors were shocked and surprised to hear the couple were divorcing; one told the Post, "There was no sign of anything. Never an argument, nothing. They were the ideal family."

Mayor Bloomberg spoke out against the murder acquittal of Lillo Brancato Jr. Brancato, on trial for the death of an off-duty police officer, had claimed he was "dope sick" and didn't realize his friend Steven Armento was armed during their quest for drugs. Bloomberg said, "This business that, 'Oh, I was high on drugs' is no excuse. This business that 'I didn't know there was a gun' is no excuse... If you and somebody else choose to rob somebody and the other person pulls a gun, you're as culpable under the law and should be held to the same standards as the one that actually did the shooting... It's society that is hurt by the juries' not standing up for those that are putting their lives on the line." Armento, who shot an off-duty cop who interrupted their attempt to get drugs from a friend's house, was convicted and Brancato's lawyer had emphasized Brancato was not the shooter.

The jury deliberating the fate of Lillo Brancato Jr. told the judge they were deadlocked yesterday. The jury said, via a note, that their vote was 11 to 1; NY1 reports, "The judge re-read instructions on deliberation to the divided jury and advised the jurors to come back at 9:30 a.m. Friday to continue deliberating." Brancato faces murder charges for the 2005 shooting of off-duty police officer Daniel Enchautegui. Earlier yesterday, a juror was replaced—according to the Daily News, Marvin Gittens ignored the judge's directions and "took notes throughout the trial and researched the case on the internet." Another juror told the judge about Gittens' behavior. This the second juror to be replaced; two weeks ago, one left because he was arrested for "allegedly punching his teen-age stepson in the face."

The lawyer for Lillo Brancato Jr. says his client is "scared to death" about that verdict a jury will bring him. Brancato is facing murder charges in the 2005 killing of an off-duty police officer, who stopped Brancato and another man from breaking into a Bronx home. Though he didn't fire the gun, the former actor can be found guilty of murder if the jury believes he intended to rob the house. Defense lawyer Joseph Tacopina tried to emphasize during closing arguments that Brancato was just trying to rouse the homeowner, a friend (who had actually been dead for months), while the prosecution pointed out that Brancato's blood was found on a latex glove, indicating he was trying to break in.

Two NYPD police officers were suspended without pay after allegations they beat an off-duty Long Beach firefighter over the weekend. According to Newsday, Douglas Rome, 25, and Jason Ragoo, 26, plus a third man, allegedly assaulted 32-year-old Brian McNamara, after he "objected when the men made a rude remark to [his 22-year-old] sister." McNamara ran away after they punched and kicked him, but the men followed him and beat him again. McNamara's sister helped the police find the assailants, who "were covered in blood." Rome and Ragoo, who work at the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway, were charged with third-degree assault. McNamara was treated and released from a local hospital.

An off-duty detective who ended up wounding a man who fired upon him was initially sidelined from the force, for having a blood alcohol level of 0.09, slightly higher than the legal limit for driving. But now Police Commissioner Kelly has praised him as a near hero.

An off-duty police officer was stabbed in Chelsea early this morning. The 25-year-old victim had left the nightclub Guest House with his girlfriend and had been walking with her and a few other women when a group of men (who apparently had followed them) started to harass them.

An off-duty corrections officer was reportedly shot four times in what WABC 7 calls "an apparent gunfight with several men." The officer had been walking home around 1:45 a.m. and the shooting occurred at 1791 Walton, at East 175th Street.

Yesterday, a NJ volunteer firefighter was found guilty of fatally hitting an off-duty police officer. Robert Derian, who had a blood alcohol level of 0.12, had been driving his Jeep on the West Side Highwaywhen he hit 29-year-old Eric Concepcion.

A total no-brainer: The family of 17-month-old boy who was shot in the arm by an off-duty police officer has filed a notice of claim against the city. The Porcellini family will also pursue action against the NYPD and 24-year-old police officer Patrick Venetek.