Police Officer Joseph Koch, 29, was shot in the hand while coming to the aid of a woman and her 10-year-old child allegedly being assaulted in a Jamaica home, the Queens DA said. Photo Courtesy of the NYPD
An Ozone Park man charged with attempting to murder an off-duty police officer when the cop came to the aid of a woman and her 10-year-old child allegedly being assaulted in a Jamaica home was arraigned in his room at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center last Friday, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Jose Bernazard, 40, was also arraigned on charges of stalking the same woman he allegedly attacked – and who he briefly dated – for the last 18 months, violating an order of protection to stay away from her and assaulting her on three prior occasions, Brown said.
“The defendant has been charged with having exhibited a total disregard for the judicial system and the law,” Brown said in a prepared statement. “He is accused of assaulting on four separate occasions a woman he once dated, repeatedly ignoring a lawful mandate to stay away from her, and with shooting a police officer attempting to effect his arrest. His alleged actions clearly show that he is a threat to society.”
Bernazard, who was hospitalized and treated for a gunshot wound sustained during the June 16 incident, was arraigned before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Debora Modica on charges of attempted murder, assault, menacing a police officer, burglary, harassment, stalking, and other charges, according to the DA.
He was ordered held without bail and must return to court on July 22.
Police Officer Joseph Koch, 29, who had been attending a barbecue at the home of his fiancee’s father, heard Bernazard’s ex-girlfriend and her son screaming around 10 p.m. and, upon responding, Koch allegedly struggled with the Ozone Park man, Brown said. During the struggle, Bernazard allegedly grabbed the officer’s gun and fired a round, striking Koch in the hand, Brown said.
Bernazard allegedly attempted to enter his ex-girlfriend’s home through the front door that Sunday night, but the woman refused to let him in. He then allegedly forced his way through the door, and, once inside, the man allegedly began physically assaulting the woman and her son.
According to the DA, Bernazard stalked the woman he attacked between Jan. 26, 2012 and June 16, 203 – during which time he assaulted her on three occasions prior to the June 16 incident.
Brown said the woman was asleep in her home on Jan. 26, 2012 when she heard a noise coming from her front door and awoke to find Bernazard on top of her – after which he allegedly choked her and repeatedly punched her.
At the time of his arrest, Bernazard allegedly stated to police that he “broke the door to get in and get my stuff,” Brown said.
Bernazard is also charged with violating an order of protection and assaulting the woman in March and December of 2012.
