3 shots, 28 years
The man convicted of shooting at two police officers near a Lower East Side public housing complex in 2012 has been sentenced to 28 years to life in prison, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance announced March 28.
Prior to the sentencing, Luis Martinez, 27, was found guilty on Jan. 31 of two counts of first-degree attempted murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Around 1:40 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2012, Martinez — a former Baruch College student who was at that moment selling marijuana — was approached by the two patrolling officers near Baruch Houses, after which he pulled out a 9-millimeter handgun and fired three shots at them, according to court records. Two bullets missed entirely, and one glanced off an extra ammunition magazine on the waist of one of officers, leaving him miraculously unharmed. The officers then sent a barrage of 14 bullets back at Martinez as he turned and tried to flee, striking him in the buttocks and leading to his arrest at the scene.
“Thirteen N.Y.P.D. officers were shot and injured in 2012 alone,” said Vance, in a statement released with the sentencing announcement. “If not for the metal gun magazine and leather pouch that prevented the bullet from piercing Officer Thomas Richards’s abdomen, he might not be alive today. There is no clearer example of how New York’s Finest place their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. I thank the jury for their service and for seeing that justice was done in this case.”
Bungled burger burglary
Police arrested Robert Johnson, 49, and Thomas Wilson, 28, on March 28 after they allegedly broke into the basement of a Meatpacking District restaurant.
Officers in the area first spotted the two men outside Bill’s Bar & Burger, at 22 Ninth Ave., around 6 p.m., as they reportedly cased the scene. Minutes later, Johnson dashed down and snuck in through the basement entrance, while Wilson stayed up top as a lookout, police said.
Before the two could flee with any loot, the officers quickly swarmed the establishment and cornered the two men, who couldn’t give any legitimate reasons for their shady actions. Johnson and Wilson were charged with burglary.
Rude awakening
Kareem Ousmane, 34, was arrested March 29 after he allegedly attacked a police officer inside the W. 14th St. PATH station.
The officer said he noticed Ousmane sleeping on a platform bench inside the station around 2:40 p.m., and simply nudged him to wake him up. After opening his eyes, Ousmane reportedly began furiously swinging at the officer, landing several punches. Even once the handcuffs came out, Ousmane kept fighting, forcing the officer to pepper-spray him to subdue him. After the action was over, the officer said he also found the attacker was carrying a small plastic bag of alleged cocaine.
However, Ousmane was not charged with a felony for assaulting a police officer, but with misdemeanor attempted assault, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Drunk driver
Police arrested Jeff Prevot, 31, early on March 27 after he allegedly drove drunk along Sixth Ave.
Prevot, driving a 2001 Acura, was pulled over near the intersection with W. 11th St. around 4:30 a.m., moments after officers spotted him switching lanes without signaling. Approaching the car, the officers said they noticed Prevot’s breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were watery and his speech slurred. They also found he was driving with a suspended license.
Although he refused to take a breath test, Prevot was charged with driving while intoxicated — which he has been convicted of before, police said. He was also charged with driving with a suspended license.
— Sam Spokony
