An angry man started attacking two unarmed NYPD traffic officers when they asked him to move his car from the fire hydrant.
This disturbing incident happened on Wednesday in the middle of Fordham Road in Fordham Manor at around 8 pm when two traffic police officers, Adams Mandiata and Edwyn Stuart went to confront the unidentified man who parked his car illegally. The attacker was standing near his 2008 Silver Nissan Altima.
When officers asked him to move the car he became violent and start attacking the officers. The 30-year-old officer Adams Mandiata said, we were in the car we asked him to park somewhere else, then he tried to take a swing on us.
The officers got out of the car, and the attacker went straight to officer Adams and punched him in his eyes. Officer Adams said that when he punched me, I couldn’t see anything he said his eye is still swollen and red.
The other 35-year-old officer Stuart went after the attacker, but he shoved the officer to his knee. Officer Stuart said he sprained his ankle, and it is still sore.
After assaulting traffic officers, the assailant got into his car after ripping the New Jersey license plate off. According to the officers, he tried to drive away, but he stopped and came out of his car to fight with us again.
Yvette Izavuirre, the owner of nearby La Perilla Latina restaurant, who was the eyewitness of this incident said, it was horrific to see. The man was so violent towards the police who were just doing their job.
Officer Stuart said that this kind of violence comes with this kind of job, and it happens regularly. Our job is not easy.
Sokunbi Olufemi, executive vice president of Local 1182, which represents the city’s traffic officers said, we are the soft targets for the thugs because we carry nothing to defend ourselves. He said officers should be able to carry something through which they can defend themselves during these violent incidents.
30-year-old officer Adams Mandiata, who joined the force three years ago, said he might quit this job because no one knows what’s going to happen next, you can even lose your life.
No arrests have been made so far in Wednesday’s incident. The NYPD asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) if anyone has any kind of information about the assailant.