Man Charged With Hitting, Dragging Officer With ATV During Brooklyn Traffic Stop
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A man was in court Friday night, on charges that he dragged an NYPD officer nearly 200 feet with an all-terrain vehicle in Brooklyn.
As CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported, Kenny Ortiz, 31, walked out of the 75th Precinct police station in Brooklyn Friday night and avoided CBS 2's cameras --walking silently with his head down.
Ortiz was arrested at his home in Queens on Thursday.
He faces the following charges and citations:
• Attempted murder of a police officer;
• Assault with intent to cause serious injury with a weapon;
• Assault of a police officer;
• Attempted aggravated vehicular homicide;
• Vehicular assault;
• Resisting arrest;
• Reckless driving;
• Operating an unregistered motorcycle;
• Driving a motor vehicle on a sidewalk.
The incident happened at 3:47 p.m. Sunday. Two officers were driving in an unmarked squad car along South Conduit Avenue near Pitkin Avenue, when they noticed a man driving the yellow four-wheel Yamaha ATV recklessly, police said.
The ATV driver was weaving in and out of traffic and driving on the sidewalk, police said.
As officers approached the ATV, the driver sped away from the scene. He struck one of the officers in the process — dragging him 190 feet and running over his leg before fleeing the scene, police said.
Police said they recovered parts of the ATV at the home of Ortiz's girlfriend.
A $12,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrest.
Police released a surveillance video of the ATV speeding away from the scene after the incident. They also previously released a sketch of the suspect wearing a distinctive black helmet with white skulls.
The officer as of Friday remained in stable condition at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. He was reported to be alert and conscious, and in good spirits – although in a lot of pain. The officer suffered extensive cuts to his leg, a broken vertebra, a broken nose, and bruises to his face.
"He's very lucky to be alive, being quite frank with you," said NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
The officer was in plainclothes when the incident occurred, but he and his partner put their lights and sirens on.
On Friday night, the ATV that was allegedly involved was parked behind the precinct station. Sources told CBS 2 Ortiz stripped it of all distinctive yellow markings and hid parts at his girlfriend's Brooklyn home.
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