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Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Injuring NYPD Officer During Car Chase

By Nicholas Rizzi | March 9, 2016 3:19pm
 Clinton James, 35, was sentenced to 22 years to life in jail after he was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon, assault and reckless endangerment after he injured an NYPD officer in 2013.
Clinton James, 35, was sentenced to 22 years to life in jail after he was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon, assault and reckless endangerment after he injured an NYPD officer in 2013.
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Staten Island District Attorney's Office

STATEN ISLAND — The man who injured an NYPD officer after leading police on a wild chase in 2013 was sentenced to 22 years in prison Tuesday, District Attorney Michael McMahon announced.

Clinton James, 35, was sentenced by Judge Wayne Ozzi after being convicted in December on assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon charges.

"Clinton James showed absolute disregard for the safety of both the police and pedestrians when he used his car as a weapon in a failed attempt to escape capture by members of the NYPD Gang Squad,” McMahon said in a statement.

"Criminal actions like these will not be tolerated in our borough and individuals who commit such crimes will be vigorously prosecuted."

On March 9, 2013, members of the Staten Island Gang Squad intercepted phone calls from James in which he made plans to meet and buy a gun from Damon Scott, prosecutors said.

After officers spotted James leaving Brannon's car and tucking a gun in his waistband, they tried to pull him over at the stoplight on Schmidts Lane and Slosson Avenue. James jumped the curb and sped away, prosecutors said.

When James got stuck in traffic at Manor Road and Gannon Avenue North, officers tried to arrest him but James rammed his Toyota Camry into other vehicles, pinning Det. Dennis Maira between two then dragging him with his car, prosecutors said.

Maira's partner, Det. John Fahim, saw James pointing a gun at Maira as he approached, yelled "gun" and fired three shots, hitting James in the stomach.

James sped away, crashing into more cars, until he hit a utility pole at Gannon Avenue North and Gansevoort Boulevard, causing his car to flip over, prosecutors said.

He fled on foot but was eventually arrested and officers recovered the loaded gun from the car.

Maira had to have surgery on his shoulder and the injuries forced him to retire from the NYPD, McMahon said.

James has been arrested numerous times before, including in 2013 as part of a large drug and gun bust in Staten Island.