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Man Pleads Not Guilty In Auto Assault Of Two Police Officers In Westchester

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- A 38-year-old Bronx man pleaded not guilty after being arraigned Wednesday in the alleged auto assault of two Mount Pleasant police officers.

Nathan Irizarry

Nathan Irizarry

Photo Credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office

The charges stem from an incident in which two Mount Pleasant police officers responded to Route 117 near Rockefeller State Park on reports of drag racing in progress on Nov. 14 at approximately 12:30 a.m., acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said.

The officers attempted to stop a car being driven by Nathan Irizarry but he pulled away at a high rate of speed, McCarty said. 

Police again encountered Irizarry's car on Route 117 about 20 minutes later, McCarty said, and stopped the vehicle.

Police were attempting to remove him from the car when the defendant put his car in reverse at a high rate of speed, McCarty said.

The vehicle dragged one officer about 50 yards and in the process struck a second officer standing on the roadway, according to McCarty.

The serious injuries sustained by the two officers have prevented them from returning to duty, according to McCarty.

Irizarry, of Commonwealth Avenue in the Bronx, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with two counts of assault in the first degree (Class B felonies), two counts of aggravated assault upon a police officer (Class B felonies), and two counts of assault on a police officer (Class C felonies).

Irizarry was arrested on Feb. 17 after a lengthy investigation. 

Irizarry's next court date is May 19, 2016.

Irizarry faces five to 25 years in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Timothy Ward and Assistant District Attorney Kristina Dushaj are prosecuting the case.

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