STATEN ISLAND — A prisoner who wrestled an NYPD officer to the ground and tried to grab her gun inside a hospital pleaded guilty to assault Tuesday.
Dante Martin, 36, faces 12 years to life in prison for attacking the officer who was guarding him inside Richmond University Medical Center after he was arrested on weapons charges, District Attorney Michael McMahon announced.
Martin was arrested on Aug. 25 after officers responded to a 911 call of a man threatening a woman with a gun near 55 Holland Ave.
He tried to flee police and ditch the gun, but officers caught up with him and recovered the loaded Glock 23, prosecutors said.
After his arrest, Martin claimed he needed medical attention for a seizure condition and was taken to Richmond University Medical Center, a law enforcement source previously said.
On Aug. 28, Martin told the officer guarding him he needed to use the bathroom then attacked her after she removed his handcuffs, prosecutors said.
He threw her to the ground, wrapped his arms around her, punched her then tried to remove her gun from her holster, even getting his finger on the trigger, authorities said.
The rookie officer began to scream for help when a patient on the same floor, Rafael Muniz, ran in and grabbed Martin's arm, ABC 7 reported.
"He had a moment of clarity, looked at me and I said, 'You don't have to do it'," Muniz, 42, told ABC 7.
"His reply was, 'But I have my finger on the trigger.' I told him, 'Just take it off the trigger' — after the second time, he did."
Other officers then came into the room and arrested Martin.
Maritn was later indicted for attempted murder but pleaded guilty to assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
He has been arrested several times before and was out on parole sine January after he spent time in the Woodbourne Correctional Facility for assault and attempted criminal possession of a weapon, according to state Department of Corrections records.
Martin also spent eight years behind bars for attempted assault and was released in 2007, records show.
For his latest charges, Martin's scheduled to be sentenced on July 10.
