Bronx City Council Member Kristy Marmorato called the NYPD “under-resourced” and “overworked” in a social media post Friday following a violent carjacking in Pelham Bay that left a 32-year-old Bronx man in critical condition at Jacobi Medical Center, reportedly facing the possibility of losing his leg.
The victim was dragged through the streets while trying to stop a thief from stealing his Infinity Q50 that he left unattended in front of a deli on Westchester Avenue, according to police.
Marmorato posted her response to the crime on X, saying that without properly staffed police departments, Bronx residents had to fend for themselves because the city had “gutted” law enforcement and weakened its laws.
“We need more cops,” Marmorato said in the statement. “We need laws that mean something. And it is incumbent upon us to restore public safety and bring back law and order policies before more innocent people are hurt.”
Thursday’s victim sprinted out of a nearby business when he saw the suspect hop into the driver’s seat of his vehicle, security footage showed. While the thief tried to drive away, the victim held on to the driver’s side mirror and was dragged along with the car which then swiped another parked car and sped away, leaving the man in the road.
The suspect later ditched the car on the side of the road on Hutchinson River Parkway, where it was eventually recovered by police.
The Republican city councilwoman who represents the district where the victim’s car was stolen also pointed out that the NYPD’s 45th Precinct, where the incident occurred, is down 19 officers—highlighting ongoing concerns about police staffing shortages that have fueled fierce political debate. She said the solution is more cops.
The NYPD said the investigation into Thursday’s brutal carjacking is still ongoing and that no arrests have been made yet.
Major crime in the 45th Precinct is up 8.8% for the year through April 27, compared to the same period in 2024. Conversely, crime is down across the city 8.3% this year compared to last.
