BUSHWICK — A man who tried to grab a police officer's gun inside a Brooklyn stationhouse was released without bail by a judge a day later.
Kurdel Emmanuel, 29, walked into Bushwick's 83rd Precinct and tried to wrestle Officer Lauren Morales's service gun from her belt on Saturday morning, injuring her arm, police and prosecutors said.
He was arraigned on attempted robbery and assault charges and released on his own recognizance Sunday by Judge Loren Baily-Shiffman, despite the fact that prosecutors demanded Emmanuel be held on $250,000 bail.
The judge's move enraged the police union, in light of the fatal shooting of an NYPD officer in The Bronx just days earlier.
“This is a sickening display of carelessness or callousness by a judge who should be fully aware of similarity in the circumstances between this thug’s crime and the assassination of police officer Miosotis Familia," said Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, referring to the murder of Familia as she sat in her patrol car.
"It is unconscionable that Judge Baily-Shiffman refused to remand this homicidal/suicidal man into custody for his own sake and the sake of our members and the public."
The judge couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the state's Office of Court Administration, noted that "a judge has broad discretion when deciding to set bail or bond."
"In this instance, the judge made her decision based on the facts and circumstances of the case as she saw them," he said.
Emmanuel is due back in court on Aug. 10. No information about his attorney was available immediately.
The incident happened at 11:15 a.m. Saturday inside the 83rd Precinct stationhouse at 480 Knickerbocker Ave., where Emmanuel walked in and tried to grab Morales' service gun, police and prosecutors said.
The officer fought back, and a desk sergeant had jump in to pry Emmanuel off of her and handcuff him, police said.
Morales was taken to Wyckoff Hospital and treated for bruising, swelling and a cut on her arm, according to police and prosecutors.
Officers from The Bronx's 40th Precinct tweeted out a picture of Emmanuel, warning police that he had suicidal thoughts and thoughts of killing others, and that officers should be aware of their safety.
Wanted: Assault 2 on a👮🏻♀️that occurred on 7/8/17. This man attempted to remove 🔫from holster.👮🏻♀️did arrest him & was RELEASED later on!👀 pic.twitter.com/QCChkiUm0r
— NYPD 40th Precinct (@NYPD40Pct) July 9, 2017
