According to law enforcement sources who spoke to The Post, the NYPD has identified one of the vicious thugs who allegedly attacked an off-duty NYPD officer and took his service weapon at knifepoint.
They have also busted his father for allegedly using the officer’s stolen credit card.
Two “armed and extremely dangerous” thugs carried out the heinous armed robbery at 1472 St. Peter’s Ave. in Westchester Square just after 4 a.m. on Saturday, according to police, and Taveon Hargrove, 23, is a person of interest in the incident.
According to sources, police have detained the older guy after apprehending Hargrove’s father using the credit card at many Bronx bodegas. They have not yet identified the second suspect.
The actual heist was an egregious and vicious attack on one of New York’s finest.
“Two individuals viciously attacked an off-duty NYPD officer,” the department stated on X on Sunday. “They forced him to the ground, struck him in the face, held a knife to his throat, and stole his belongings, including his firearm.”
According to the police, the off-duty officer’s Glock 19 9mm handgun was taken by the criminals. According to sources, the injured police officer is conscious and able to speak, but he is still in excruciating agony and will require surgery to repair a fractured eye socket and cheekbone.
Over the weekend, the NYPD unveiled a wanted poster featuring Hargrove.
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“Suspect is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous,” it stated.
The attack coincides with an increase in assaults on New York’s Finest, which, according to NYPD data, reached “unprecedented levels” as of October and increased by 41% in the first ten months of 2024.
In 2024, there were 1,975 assaults on cops until October, compared to 1,763 in 2023.
A retired NYPD sergeant was attacked by three teenage punks on the Upper East Side last month. The “heinous attacks” on officers were denounced by Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
“In just the past month, we’ve seen some heinous attacks on police officers in NYC, including: one with part of his finger bitten off; another with part of his ear bitten off; and this latest vicious assault resulting in severe fractures to an officer’s face, among too many,” she stated.
