A Queens Village resident, who surrendered himself last week, is accused of attempted murder of three police officers on the morning of August 17, after he ran over them with his car, attempting to flee their questioning.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s (D.A.) office, Jeffrey Contreras was parked outside the 105th Precinct at approximately 1:35 a.m in his SUV when an officer approached him.
Court documents further that the police officer, Joseph Grubert, asked the 23-year-old driver to step out of his car, but Contreras refused and grabbed the driver’s head-rest to resist physical removal from the vehicle.
It is alleged that Contreras than placed the SUV into gear with the intention of driving away while Grubert and another officer on the scene, Joseph Manzella, clung to the vehicle. According to the police report, Contreras ran over Grubert’s foot and Manzella’s knees after dragging them for approximately 25 feet.
The driver reportedly than struck a parked car and reversed the SUV, this time running over Manzella’s knees and striking a third officer on the scene, Anthony Crescimanno.
Crescimanno was struck in the torso and thrown to the ground before he sped away, according to the D.A.’s office.
The officers were taken to a local hospital where they were treated for various injuries.
If convicted, Contreras faces 15 years to life in prison.
