A Bronx man has been arraigned on attempted murder and other charges after allegedly assaulting an NYPD officer during a robbery in late May. According to a press release by the Bronx District Attorney's Office, 23-year-old Taveon Hargrove was indicted for the brutal attack that occurred when the officer was between shifts, leaving him with serious injuries.
Fleeing to Virginia after the incident, Hargrove was extradited to New York and was arraigned by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Kim Parker yesterday. Alongside Hargrove, Wayne Lucas, also 23, is facing similar charges. Stamping on the head of the police officer so hard that it left a shoe print, the defendants allegedly violently robbed the officer of his belongings including his wallet and service pistol.
The attacked officer, Police Officer Chowdhury Nafees, suffered fractures to his facial bones and head trauma in the assault, which was recorded on a nearby video. Although fighting extradition originally, Hargrove was arraigned and remanded and is scheduled to reappear in court on September 12, as reported by the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
The details of the indictment include first and second-degree attempted murder, multiple counts of robbery and assault, and weapons charges. The injured officer, who joined the NYPD in September 2024, received four days of treatment at NYC Health + Hospitals Jacobi after the attack. Caught by Detective Sean Liscoe of the 45th Precinct Detective Squad and Detective Joseph Rivera of the Regional Fugitive Task Force, the case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Assistant Paul Irace under the supervision of other senior officials at the DA's office.
An indictment is not proof of guilt, and this criminal case is still pending. The defendants are presumably innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. More updates on this case are expected to follow as it progresses through the legal system.
