Did anyone hear about the cop in Hackensack?

[blueberry21]

Beat up by 4 guys yesterday and had his ear and nose bit off!! What kind of sick world do we live in??

[xrapturex]

Its not the first ear that got bitten off...

[gretchmason]

ok biting someone's ear... that I could see happening... but someone's nose? that's a lot of flesh to get through. Gross.

[BRIAN1500]

Police officer savagely beaten

Tuesday, February 4, 2003

By KAREN MAHABIR

Staff Writer

Carlos Diaz, 23, who allegedly bit Officer Richard Levis' nose, being arraigned in Municipal Court in Hackensack on Monday.

HACKENSACK - An off-duty city police officer who tried to move a car that was blocking the street was savagely beaten by a pack of assailants, one of whom nearly bit his nose off, police said Monday.

Patrol Officer Richard Levis was released from Hackensack University Medical Center with 140 stitches following a four-stage operation Sunday to reconstruct his nose, said Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa. One ear, also partially bitten off, required 15 more stitches, Zisa said.

"It was a vicious and brutal attack unlike any we've seen in a long, long time," the chief said Monday as Levis, a 33-year-old married father of two, recuperated at home. "His nose had literally been ripped away from his face."

Alerted by Levis and concerned neighbors, officers rushed to the bloody, early-morning scene Sunday and arrested three people in connection with the attack.

A fourth assailant, accused of removing Levis' gun from his holster and inadvertently shooting a fellow attacker in the foot, turned himself in at police headquarters two hours later. He directed police to the gun, which Zisa said the assailant had tossed into a row of bushes on State Street.

The alleged biter, 23-year-old Carlos Diaz, and the man accused of initially fleeing, Franklin Guerra, 27, are Hackensack residents, police said. The others charged are Shemara Nunez, 27, of Fairview, who police said was shot in the foot, and Jose Felix, 43, of Paterson.

Each wore bored expressions during their arraignments Monday in Municipal Court on charges including attempted murder, robbery, disarming a police officer, and aggravated assault. A plea of not guilty was entered for each.

They were being held on $150,000 cash bail each Monday at the Bergen County Jail.

Zisa said the defendants had begun partying about 6 p.m. Saturday at the Craftman's Club on Passaic Street, Hackensack, which Diaz had rented out to celebrate the birthday of his twin 1-year-old daughters. The celebration moved to Green Street after midnight and continued into the early morning, the chief said, adding that "alcohol was involved."

Levis was headed home after work in his black 2001 Chevy Impala shortly after 6 a.m. when he found Diaz's car blocking Green Street at the corner of Kansas Street, Zisa said. The officer, who was in plainclothes, identified himself and asked the driver to pull to the side, the chief said.

At that point, Diaz jumped out of the maroon 1996 GMC Jimmy and became belligerent, Zisa said. Levis headed back to his vehicle to call for help on his cellphone and was at his car door when Diaz punched him in the face, Zisa said.

Almost immediately, Guerra, Felix, and Nunez - identified as Diaz's girlfriend - rushed from the home where they had been partying and joined in the brawl, Zisa said. As they beat Levis, Diaz tore into the officer's right ear and nose with his teeth, the chief said.

Also during the scuffle, Guerra removed Levis' gun from his holster and attempted to raise it, Zisa said.

Noticing that his gun was out, Levis tried to push the weapon toward the ground when Guerra fired it once, striking Nunez in the foot; Guerra then fled with the gun, the chief said.

As Levis again tried to summon help, Diaz snatched the cellphone, Zisa said. Eventually, the officer made it to his car, where he used the vehicle's satellite communication system to notify the department.

Nunez allegedly assaulted one of the responding officers during the arrests, drawing additional charges of resisting arrest and aggravated assault. Zisa said Nunez suffered only a superficial wound in the shooting and was treated at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Two hours later, at 8 a.m., Guerra walked into police headquarters with a family member and turned himself in, Zisa said. He told police he had thrown Levis' weapon, a .40-caliber Glock handgun, into the bushes on a commercial property on State Street. Police recovered it there.

Guerra was additionally charged with possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.

Zisa said it was too early to tell Monday when Levis, who joined the department in July 1996, would return to work.

"He's a very quiet and business-like officer," the chief said

[xrapturex]

Originally posted by gretchmason

ok biting someone's ear... that I could see happening... but someone's nose? that's a lot of flesh to get through. Gross.

The ear thing was just a tyson joke...

[blueberry21]

140 stitches!! ouchhhh

Makes me feel a little better knowing NY criminals stick to guns and knives instead of teeth and nails

[FrankieGunz]

Those are the type of duechebags that they should throw them in jail and throw away the key. They're animals.

[technojesus]

I work in a clinic in crackensack and can attest to the trash that live here. Nose reconstruction aint pretty

[boococydigital]

[tripper]

they are gettin ass-raped in jail!!!!

[gretchmason]

they're going to be somebody's biiiiitch! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - people are amazing.

[incredulous]

Originally posted by gretchmason

they're going to be somebody's biiiiitch! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - people are amazing.

to bad some are amazing in a bad way

[trewguy]

its a shame this poor guy will never forget what happen and he will be reminded everyday

i hope these fucking pricks rot in jail

[taek]

Part of the work hazards of being a cop. Shouldnt put on a badge if you dont like to hurt or get hurt.

[perns2002]

Originally posted by taek

Part of the work hazards of being a cop. Shouldnt put on a badge if you dont like to hurt or get hurt.

Umm what..............

Your kidding right.

I don't think it is pretty common for people to go running around bitting peoples faces off. I think they fully understand their hazards and the risk of being hurt. This is not a common "hazard" police officers have to deal with. They don't make face vests. This is extremly barbaric.