LONG ISLAND CITY, NY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the arraignment of four individuals following a violent altercation involving two NYPD officers. The incident occurred outside a Long Island City hotel at approximately 4:20 AM on June 17, where the officers were checking on the welfare of three unattended children on bicycles.
The defendants—Juan Munoz, 25; Alejandro Munoz, 42; Karina Navarro-Chavez, 42; and Miguel Chiluisa, 23—face serious charges, including attempted gang assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The confrontation began when the officers approached a group of adults to ensure the children were supervised, leading to the adults attacking the officers by punching, kicking, and using bicycles as weapons.
The assault escalated quickly, with Chiluisa allegedly throwing a bicycle at one officer, while Navarro-Chavez is accused of hitting another officer with an unknown object. Amidst the chaos, Chiluisa attempted to flee while handcuffed but was later apprehended by another police unit.
If convicted of the top count, the defendants could face up to 15 years in prison. They are scheduled to return to court on June 21. The investigation continues as authorities seek at least one more suspect involved in the incident.
Both officers were transported to a local hospital with injuries including shoulder pain and abrasions. This case underscores the dangers police officers can face while performing routine duties and highlights the ongoing issues of public safety and community relations in urban environments.