Suspect in attack on off-duty NYPD officer in the Bronx pleads not guilty
One of the suspects charged in last month's brutal attack of an off-duty NYPD officer appeared at Bronx Criminal Court on Thursday.
The violent attack left a rookie officer with life-altering injuries.
Wayne Lucas, 23, was the second person taken into custody. Authorities tracked him down in Virginia, where investigators say he and an accomplice fled after the assault. Lucas was wearing a wig in an attempt to disguise himself when he was taken into custody, authorities said.
He appeared before a judge and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including attempted murder of a police officer. He was walked into court past dozens of officers, and was later remanded without bail.
If convicted of attempted murder, he will face 25 years to life behind bars.
His next court date is set for Sept. 12.
Here's what allegedly happened to the off-duty officer
Surveillance video from around 4 a.m. on May 24 shows two men approaching 27-year-old Chowdhury Nafees as he walked home from work -- still in uniform -- near St. Peter's Avenue in Parkchester.
Prosecutors say the suspects punched Nafees, held a knife to his throat, stole his gun, wallet, and phone, and stomped his head into the ground so forcefully that a boot print was left on the officer's face for a week. As a result, his vision is still blurry, prosecutors said.
Police say the officer's loaded service weapon has not been recovered.
Nafees was released from Jacobi Hospital last week after undergoing multiple surgeries, wheeled out to applause from fellow NYPD officers.
"This attack was egregious and brutal"
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark spoke of the graphic nature of the alleged assault and robbery.
"This attack was egregious and brutal," Clark said. "Upon learning he was an officer, they took this as an invitation to turn up the violence, pushing him to the ground and stomping him on his head."
"He's struggling to see... bruising to the face... but his goal is to return to full-time duty as a New York City police officer," said Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association. "We're going to be here at every court appearance to make sure that this individual stays behind bars for a long, long time."
