Man Accused Of Shooting At Cops Charged With Attempted Murder
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police arrested a 53-year-old man who allegedly fired at two officers while wearing a trench coat, dark glasses, and a fake beard earlier this month.
Antonio Olmeda was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment.
"Our officers miraculously escaped injury when their assailant fired at extremely close range, narrowly missing them," Commissioner Kelly said in a statement. "Olmeda's arrest was bittersweet in that it came this morning as the family of Police Officer Peter Figoski prepared for his funeral."
Police said two uniformed officers were patrolling on foot just before 4 p.m. on December 2 in the vicinity of 76th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens when they were alerted by a passerby of a male acting suspiciously at the corner of 37th Road and 76th Street.
The officers walked to the location and observed a male wearing a black trench coat with a fake beard, a hat and dark glasses.
According to police, when the officers approached Olmeda they asked him for identification. Olmeda removed his hands from his pockets, pulled out a black revolver and fired twice at the officers before fleeing southbound on 77th Street. The officers pursued the suspect but were unable to apprehend him.
The fake beard, hat and glasses were recovered during the foot pursuit. No injuries were sustained by either of the officers.
The DNA found on the fake glasses matched Olmeda's, according to police.
Olmeda has previously served a 4-year sentence on a weapons charge after an arsenal that included swords, pipe bombs, and assault weapons was found in his van.
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