Police arrested a robbery suspect for alledgedly shooting two plainclothes police officers in Fordham.
Jason Polanco, 24, of 2639 Decatur Avenue, was charged with counts of attempted murder of a police officer, among other charges, after he alledgedly shot two officers, on Sunday, January 4.
The officers have been identified in published reports as Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellerano.
An accomplice in the alleged robbery of a supermarket 10 minutes before the shootings, Joshua Kemp, 28, of 5 Metropolitan Oval, was also taken into custody on a number of charges, with police announcing the arrests on Tuesday, January 6.
The plainclothes officers were part of a 46th Precinct five-member anti-crime team searching for suspects wanted in connection with the armed robbery of Welcome 2 Yemen Deli and Grocery at 363 E. 180th Street.
The shooting incident occurred at around 10:35 p.m. on East 184th Street and Tiebout Avenue, according to remarks by police commissioner William Bratton, who spoke at St. Barnabas Hospital shortly after the wounded hero cops were brought there for treatment.
According to police, Polanco alledgedly ran into a Chinese restaurant on Tiebout Avenue after the men were found by the cops, while his partner in the earlier robbery, Kemp, waited outside.
As the officers approached, police report, Polanco ran out of the restaurant and opened fire, with the anti-crime unit returning fire.
The suspects then car-jacked a Chevrolet Camaro on Marion Avenue, and fled, said the commissioner.
Mayor de Blasio joined Bratton at St. Barnabas around midnight on Monday, January 6, according to published reports.
“Thank God these officers are doing well and will recover,” said the mayor. “We care obviously at this moment not just for these officers, but for their families – we want to support them at this difficult time. And as always, the city of New York and the NYPD will be with them through this challenge and as these officers recover.”
From Borough President Diaz to Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, elected officials who represent Bronx communities condemned the attack and wished the officers a speedy recovery.
“Reports indicate that their injuries are not life threatening, and for that we are incredibly grateful,” said Diaz. “My thoughts and prayers are with them and their families as they recover.”
Mark-Viverto said: “Violence against our police officers is a horrible and deplorable crime that is an assault against all New Yorkers, and those who are responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Those responsible for the shootings deserve no mercy at all: they should be prosecuted aggressively to the fullest extent of the law,” said Councilman Ritchie Torres, who represents the effected community.
One of the officers suffered gunshot wounds to the left arm and the lower back, the other was shot in the chest and left arm, said Bratton.
In addition to attempted murder of a police officer, Polanco is charged with attempted murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault, according to the NYPD.
Kemp is charged with robbery, grand larceny, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property.
