Photo Courtesy of Google
The defendants allegedly attempted to burglarize an apartment on 59th Avenue near 153rd Street.
By Michael V. Cusenza
A Howard Beach man has admitted to hitting a cop in the face with a crowbar, causing severe injuries, during an attempted burglary in Kew Gardens Hills in 2019, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz recently announced.
Andres Tabares, 40, pleaded guilty last Monday to assault in the first degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Daniel Lewis, who indicated that he would sentence Tabares next month to 12 years in prison to be followed by 5 years’ post-release supervision.
Morales Moreira, of Woodhaven, has also been charged and is awaiting his next court date on Sept. 21.
File Photo
“In pleading guilty, the defendant has taken responsibility for causing severe injuries to a police officer,” DA Katz said of Tabares.
According to the charges, at approximately 9:40 p.m., on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, a 911 call was made from a man stating that he heard someone at his back door trying to break into his home. Police officers responded to the 59th Avenue address and spotted Tabares along with Moreira.
Both defendants immediately fled the scene in different directions and police officers gave chase. Police.
Officer Anthony Spinella pursued Tabares on foot. As Spinella caught up to Tabares he grabbed his shirt at which time Tabares swung his arm around and hit Spinella in the face with the crowbar he was holding.
Katz said that as a result of the incident Spinella sustained serious injury to his left eye, leaving him unable to perform his duties as a police officer. At the time of Tabares’s arrest, he said that “it was a mistake” and that he was just “trying to get away.”
Moreira was apprehended without incident.
“In pleading guilty, the defendant has taken responsibility for causing severe injuries to a police officer, who was responding to a report of an attempted burglary,” Katz added. “The defendant now faces a prison term as punishment for his criminal actions.”
