NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A Queens man who ended the career of an NYPD officer by striking him in the eye with a crowbar has pleaded guilty to assault, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.
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Andres Tabares, 40, pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree assault for striking Officer Anthony Spinell on April 16, 2019, after the officer caught up to him for an attempted burglary at a Kew Gardens home.
"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 said in a statement. "The defendant now faces a prison term as punishment for his criminal actions."
Queens Supreme Court Justice Daniel Lewis indicated that he will sentence Tabares on Oct. 7 to 12 years in prison, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
According to the charges, at around 9:40 p.m., a 911 call was made from a man saying that he heard someone at his back door trying to break into his home.
The officers responded to the 59th Avenue address and spotted Tabares and Marlon Morales Moreira. Prosecutors said they both immediately fled the scene in different directions, and the officers gave chase.
Officer Spinella chased Tabares and, as he caught up to the 40-year-old, grabbed his shirt. That's when prosecutors say Tabares swung his arm around and hit Officer Spinella in the face with the crowbar he was holding.
As a result of the incident, Spinella sustained a serious physical injury to his left eye, leaving him unable to perform his duties as a police officer.
When Tabares was arrested he said that "it was a mistake" and that he was just "trying to get away," according to prosecutors.
Morales Moreira was arrested without incident and has also been charged. The 32-year-old is awaiting his next court date on Sept. 21.
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