Illegal Migrant Accused of Ramming NYPD Cop Had Prior Assault Charge, ICE Detainer
The suspect, who entered the U.S. in 2023, allegedly struck an officer responding to a large gathering in the Bronx.
An illegal migrant from the Dominican Republic, Eduardo Paulino, 31, is accused of striking an NYPD officer with a vehicle while the officer responded to a disturbance in the South Bronx. Law enforcement sources revealed that Paulino was already wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the time of the incident, which occurred Saturday evening.
Paulino, who reportedly entered the United States in 2023, had an ICE detainer lodged against him following a prior arrest on Sept. 14 for allegedly assaulting a stranger in a parking dispute. In that incident, Paulino is accused of repeatedly punching a 29-year-old man in the face. The victim sustained a bloody nose, cuts to his mouth, and scratches to his leg. The man Paulino allegedly attacked was also arrested and faced similar charges for his role in the altercation.
Despite the ICE detainer, Paulino was released on his own recognizance because the charges he faced – misdemeanor assault and harassment – were not eligible for bail under New York State's bail reform laws, according to sources and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities stated that on Saturday, police responded to a 911 call reporting a large crowd and loud music at approximately 7:20 p.m. As an officer approached to investigate, Paulino allegedly drove a white Honda Pilot in reverse. The officer ordered him to stop, but Paulino is accused of accelerating toward the officer, striking his legs and hip. The criminal complaint states that Paulino then turned the vehicle's front wheels toward the officer and accelerated again, hitting the officer's leg and causing him to fall. Paulino allegedly struck the officer a third time with the SUV's rear wheels before fleeing the scene.
The injured officer was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including severe pain and swelling to his legs, ankles, knees, hips, and back.
Paulino now faces a charge of attempted murder. He was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond during his arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court on Monday. The ICE detainer remains in effect, according to city Department of Correction records.
The arrest of Paulino comes shortly after ICE announced it had lodged immigration detainers against two other Dominican nationals arrested in connection with the stabbing of an off-duty NYPD detective earlier this month. The two individuals, D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneinder Mejia, were ordered held without bail last week on attempted murder charges related to the Oct. 2 assault of Detective Jose Mercedes.
ICE New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo issued a statement on Tuesday regarding the detective stabbing case, criticizing New York City's policies. "New York City’s refusal to honor ICE detainers and its repeated release of removable aliens has grave and unacceptable consequences, including for the very law enforcement officers sworn to protect this city," Genalo stated. "When public safety is politicized and cooperation with federal immigration enforcement is rejected, dangerous individuals will remain in our communities despite repeated encounters with law enforcement. New Yorkers deserve policies that prevent future harm rather than create opportunities for it."