Man surrenders after beating up off-duty NYPD officer in Queens: police
William Garzon, 23, is charged with three counts of assault for the early Saturday afternoon attack on an off-duty NYPD officer. The 29-year-old victim was sitting on a nearby park bench when he noticed two men and two women get into a car around 4:20 a.m. near 81st St. and Northern Blvd. in Jackson Heights. One of the women screamed for help, police sources said.
The officer then tried to intervene and approached the two men, but they attacked him, police said. One of the men approached the victim from behind and placed his arms around his neck, choking him. The other attacker punched and kicked the officer as he was being choked, rendering the victim unconscious.
While the cop was blacked out, the two attackers kicked him multiple times as he lay on the ground, before taking off in a gray 2017 Ford Mustang.
EMS transported the officer, who sustained multiple bruises to his body, to Elmhurst Hospital where was in stable condition.
Garzon surrendered to police after he noticed his photo had been released by the NYPD, sources said. His arraignment at Queens Criminal Court was pending Wednesday afternoon.
The second attacker remains at large.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.
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