Suffolk-County-Police
Patchogue, NY (77WABC)-A Suffolk County Police Officer is fighting for his/her life after undergoing surgery after being stabbed in a leg artery during an altercation Saturday with an allegedly intoxicated driver who was spotted driving erratically without his headlights on.
Police say the officer spotted the driver, 25-year-old Jonathan Nunez, of Centereach, on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue. The officer activated his overhead lights and attempted to pull Nunez over. During the pursuit, Nunez crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of South Ocean Avenue and Brook Street, where Nunez exited his vehicle. The officer and Nunez became involved in a physical confrontation in the yard of a home, where Nunez allegedly stabbed the officer in the thigh.
Responding officers and good samaritans applied a tourniquet to the officer’s leg to stop arterial bleeding. The officer was first transported to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue and then transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured artery.
The SCPD family is asking for you to keep one of its own in your thoughts as he fights for his life following a stabbing in Patchogue.
The @SCPD5thPrecinct officer underwent emergency surgery and is currently listed in critical condition at Stony Brook University Hospital. pic.twitter.com/bXk08og4SF— Suffolk County Police Department (@SCPDHq) April 11, 2021
Suffolk County PBA released a statement Sunday night:
“Officer Racioppo was critically injured last evening during a foot pursuit of a suspect in Patchogue. At the scene, fellow Suffolk County Police Officers applied a successful tourniquet, preventing further blood loss, and transported him to the hospital. We extend our thoughts to Officer Racioppo and ask all Suffolk County residents to keep him and his family in their prayers as the circumstances remain critical. This incident reaffirms the dangers faced by Suffolk Police every time they report for duty.”
Suffolk Police say Nunez is charged with aggravated assault upon a police officer, driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He was admitted to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue. Nunez is scheduled to be arraigned at a later date.
The other driver involved in the crash was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
