Hempstead, NY - April 4th, 2014 - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced the sentencing today of a Hempstead man for assaulting a police officer with a knife during an incident in March 2012.
Christopher Sargeant, 34, of Hempstead, was sentenced by Nassau County Court Judge Philip Grella to 5 years in prison and $87,446 in restitution – most of which was ordered to cover to cost of the injured officer’s medical bills. In January 2014, Sargeant pleaded guilty to Assault in the 2nd Degree (a D felony), the top charge in the March 2013 Grand Jury indictment against him.
“The actions of this defendant are a reminder of the dangers that police officers face every day in keeping us all safe,” DA Rice said. “Violence of any kind against the hardworking men and women responsible for our safety will not be tolerated, and will be vigorously prosecuted by my office.”
DA Rice said that on March 25, 2012, three members of the Nassau County Police Department responded to reports of a man, later found to be Sargeant, pelting passing cars with rocks in Hempstead. Police then followed Sargeant as he drove to a home in Hempstead, exited the car, and walked up to the side entrance with a knife visible in his hand.
After refusing the officers’ commands to drop the knife, Sargeant fled into the interior of the home into a laundry room. When verbal commands to drop the knife were ignored, police officers attempted to gain entry into the laundry room. A struggle ensued, and an officer was cut in the abdomen by Sargeant. Sargeant was arrested at the scene. The officer who was cut was transported to Nassau University Medical Center. He later recovered from his injuries.
In an unrelated case, Sargeant was sentenced yesterday by Nassau County Court Judge Helene Gugerty to one year in jail for violating a Stay-Away Order of Protection on March 1, 2012. The sentence will run concurrent to the sentence in the Assault case.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Walsh of DA Rice’s Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting the case involving the assault of the police officer. Assistant District Attorney Amanda Burke of DA Rice’s Special Victims Bureau is prosecuting the case involving the Order of Protection. Sargeant is represented by Gregory Madey, Esq. in the Assault case, and Peter Troxler, Esq. in the Order of Protection case.
