The NYPD has identified the second suspect wanted for the caught-on-video beatdown of an off-duty NYPD cop robbed of his wallet and pistol — and is asking the public’s help tracking him down.
Police identified the new suspect as 23-year-old Wayne Lucas and released a photo of him Wednesday. The identification came a day after U.S. marshals, working with the NYPD, nabbed Lucas’ accused accomplice, 23-year-old Taveon Hargrove, in Virginia.
Officers used the handcuffs belonging to the wounded cop when they took Hargrove into custody, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on X.
[He] is now in the handcuffs of the officer he assaulted, after he was taken into custody this morning in Virginia,” she wrote. “One under, one to go.”
Officials are working to extradite Hargrove back to New York, where he is expected to face attempted murder, assault and robbery charges.
Cops on Sunday arrested Taveon’s father, Jeffrey Hargrove, 55, for petty larceny and criminal possession of stolen property after he was allegedly caught using one of the beaten cop’s credit cards. He was released without bail after being arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court.
The two accused muggers attacked the 27-year-old cop at St. Peters and Tratman Aves. in Westchester Square about 4:15 a.m. Saturday as the officer was returning home from work.
The victim was wearing a civilian jacket over his uniform when the pair ran up to him, threatened him with a knife and beat him unconscious, police said.
One of the crooks swiped the cop’s gun during the vicious mugging, leaving the victim with a broken orbital bone after they repeatedly punched him in the face, cops said. Startling video of the attack obtained by the Daily News shows one of the crooks turning back after rummaging through the cop’s pockets as the victim lay helplessly on the ground and stomping on his head.
Anyone with information on the new suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
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