Repeat Felon Released Without Bail After Assaulting Police Officer in New York
A repeat offender in New York, Johnny McCray, was released without bail after assaulting a Yonkers police officer, sparking outrage among city officials who are calling it “the very definition of insanity.”
The assault took place on September 6th when officers responded to a medical call near Yonkers Avenue and Cypress Street. They found 39-year-old Johnny McCray, confirmed he was breathing, and tried to help him into an ambulance.
McCray, however, tried to leave the ambulance, leading to officers and medical staff patiently convincing him to stay.
But things took an unexpected turn when McCray suddenly delivered a “sucker punch” to an officer’s face, breaking his nose in an unprovoked assault. Officers quickly subdued McCray and put him in handcuffs.
McCray faced charges of felony second-degree assault on a police officer and other offenses. He was initially held in a county jail, pending a bail hearing.
Despite the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office requesting a substantial bail amount, McCray managed to secure his release until his next court date by issuing a simple apology and mentioning an upcoming job interview.
Mayor Mike Spano of Yonkers expressed his frustration, saying, “The justice system is consistently bailing out criminal offenders. This officer is now on leave, unable to perform his duty, while the offender continues with his life. How can we protect the public if we can’t even protect our police officers?”
Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza emphasized the importance of holding criminals accountable, stating, “For the sake of all crime victims, we cannot let criminal acts go unpunished. If we don’t take violent crime seriously in our courts, it will undermine our crime-fighting efforts.”
In light of this incident, Spano firmly stated, “Those who have proven to hurt and plague the community belong in jail, period.”