A man accused of running amok and attacking several cops during a literally naked rampage on the Lower East Side last month had a bizarre outburst in court Wednesday evening.
Mekhiel Saldana, 26, appeared in New York County Supreme Court on Sept. 17 for arraignment on three counts each of assault and attempted robbery for the unhinged incident on Aug. 25 in which he allegedly attacked officers and attempted to steal their guns — all while he ran at them in the buff.
Saldana seemed to explain his actions during the court appearance in an explicit fashion.
“I tried to take the guns because I wanted to kill myself because I am sick of this s**t!” Saldana screamed in court.
According to the charges, officers from the 5th Precinct responded to a 911 call at Chrystie and Broome Streets at about 9 a.m. on Aug. 25. The report alleged that Saldana had been swinging while naked from a crosswalk light fixture while attempting to knock people off their bikes.
When the officers approached him, prosecutors said, Saldana allegedy dropped down and began climbing a nearby car before leaping at them.
Court documents show that Saldana then allegedly tried to reach for their guns and pulled them from their belts.
He then bit one of the officer’s fingers for over two minutes and only released the bite when reinforcements pulled him away.
After being cuffed and taken to Bellevue Hospital for an evaluation, prosecutors said, Saldana allegedly lunged at one of the cops and again reached for his gun; both fell to the ground amid the struggle.
Cops said he allegedly punched the officer in the head, and then hospital security pulled him off.
After this incident, all three officers were placed on medical leave. One officer, who has lost feeling in two of her fingers from the bite attack, has been unable to return to work.
“These officers were just trying to do their jobs when they were allegedly violently assaulted by this individual,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. “We do not have tolerance for those who attack members of law enforcement, and I hope the injured officers can make full recoveries.”
Saldana was ordered held in custody without bail following his Sept. 17 court appearance.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said the incident served as yet “another example of our failing mental health system putting police officers and all New Yorkers in harm’s way.”
“This individual is clearly a danger to himself, the public, and anyone who is sent to deal with him. He needs to be kept off the streets,” Hendry said.
