Man Charged In Attack On Ex-Girlfriend, Her Son; Officer Was Shot In Incident
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Brooklyn man has been charged with attacking his ex-girlfriend and her 10-year-old son, in an incident that also led to an off-duty police officer being shot in Queens.
Jose Bernazard was charged after he allegedly broke into his ex-girlfriend's home in Jamaica, Queens on Sunday night, prosecutors said. He will also be charged in connection with the shooting that wounded the officer.
Bernazard tried to get his ex-girlfriend to let him in through the front door around 10 p.m. Sunday night. She would not let him in, so he forced his way through the door, according to the Queens County District Attorney's office.
Once inside, Bernazard attacked the woman and her son. Off-duty police Officer Joseph Koch came to the home when he heard a woman screaming and a child yelling for help, and succeeded in subduing Bernazard.
During a struggle, both the officer and Bernazard were shot, prosecutors said. They were hospitalized following the incident, as was the woman.
At the time of the incident, Bernazard was also wanted on an open bench warrant, stemming from an earlier attack on his ex-girlfriend.
On that occasion, the woman was fast asleep in her home on Jan. 26, 2012, when she heard a noise at her front door and found Bernazard on top of her when she woke up, prosecutors said. Bernazard allegedly choked and punched her, and claimed that he had broken through the door to "get his stuff" when he was arrested, prosecutors said.
In that case, Bernazard was hit with multiple charges. He was released on his own recognizance, but was also hit with an order of protection and was not supposed to have any contact with his ex-girlfriend.
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