Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 12, 2007 13:45:06 GMT -5
One day after being arrested in connection with the shooting of a fellow police officer, Jacqueline Melendez-Rivera was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court Sunday.
The 13-year veteran is facing a number of charges, including evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. She posted $50,000 bond and was released.
Meanwhile, her husband, José Rivera, is being held on no bail. Prosecutors believe he's the person who shot undercover police officer Andrew Suarez just above his bullet-proof vest early Saturday morning, leaving the three-year veteran hospitalized.
Investigators say Rivera was driving this SUV when he shouted "you got a beef?" at Suarez and his fellow undercover officers before opening fire on their unmarked vehicle. His attorney, however, says his client wasn't even involved.
"He denies all the allegations in this case," said attorney Ezra Levy. "The district attorney's office and the Police Department claims he was driving the car. He denies being in the car."
Sources say officer Melendez-Rivera was found shortly after the shooting behind the wheel of the SUV. Sources tell NY1 she flashed her badge to investigators and told them she was on the job. She then allegedly said she was moving the car for her husband because it was illegally parked.
The shooting took place in Park Slope, the same neighborhood where Melendez-Rivera grew up and still lives with her three children. One neighbor says the police description doesn't sound like the woman she's known for her entire life.
"She was a regular kid on a regular block in Brooklyn," said neighbor Susan Pinto. "She joined the reserves; she ended up in Iraq. She came home. She became a cop. She's a good mom. She's a good person."
"It's a total surprise," added another neighbor. "It's very unlike this neighborhood. So it was a bit of a shock."
The next step involves prosecutors presenting their case to a grand jury. Meanwhile, Officer Suarez is listed in stable condition at Methodist Hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=9&aid=66721
The 13-year veteran is facing a number of charges, including evidence tampering and hindering prosecution. She posted $50,000 bond and was released.
Meanwhile, her husband, José Rivera, is being held on no bail. Prosecutors believe he's the person who shot undercover police officer Andrew Suarez just above his bullet-proof vest early Saturday morning, leaving the three-year veteran hospitalized.
Investigators say Rivera was driving this SUV when he shouted "you got a beef?" at Suarez and his fellow undercover officers before opening fire on their unmarked vehicle. His attorney, however, says his client wasn't even involved.
"He denies all the allegations in this case," said attorney Ezra Levy. "The district attorney's office and the Police Department claims he was driving the car. He denies being in the car."
Sources say officer Melendez-Rivera was found shortly after the shooting behind the wheel of the SUV. Sources tell NY1 she flashed her badge to investigators and told them she was on the job. She then allegedly said she was moving the car for her husband because it was illegally parked.
The shooting took place in Park Slope, the same neighborhood where Melendez-Rivera grew up and still lives with her three children. One neighbor says the police description doesn't sound like the woman she's known for her entire life.
"She was a regular kid on a regular block in Brooklyn," said neighbor Susan Pinto. "She joined the reserves; she ended up in Iraq. She came home. She became a cop. She's a good mom. She's a good person."
"It's a total surprise," added another neighbor. "It's very unlike this neighborhood. So it was a bit of a shock."
The next step involves prosecutors presenting their case to a grand jury. Meanwhile, Officer Suarez is listed in stable condition at Methodist Hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=9&aid=66721