A motorist hurled a Molotov cocktail at New York City police officers on Saturday morning and dumped another one in the face with a liquid chemical during separate incidents.
The NYPD told Fox News that officers in Brooklyn tried to drive a 2000 Lincoln Town Car driven by a 44-year-old man just before 8 p.m. When the driver was asked if he had his driver’s license and vehicle registration, the suspect said. no, according to police footage.
The driver then tries to get out of the car.
“Why are you going out?” asked the officer.
As soon as the car door opens, the man throws an unknown liquid chemical in the direction of the officer who punches him in the face, police said. The driver flees and the officer backs up to his patrol car.
Authorities released a description of the man and his car, and he was stopped shortly afterwards by other officers. He allegedly threw a lit Molotov cocktail into their patrol car. Police said the bottle bounced off the cruiser and broke on the street.
The man then drove away and crashed some distance away. After his arrest, police discovered more Molotov cocktails, authorities said.
The police officer who was hit in the face with the unidentified fluid was taken to a hospital.
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Patrick Lynch, head of the Police Benevolent Association, the union representing NYPD officials, said the incident was part of an anti-cop environment created by public officials.
“This is the violent behavior that inspired their anti-police rhetoric,” he wrote in a message to officials. “Until politicians stop inciting hatred and violence against police officers, we must be prepared to face such attacks at all times, as well as off duty.”
In a tweet, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said ‘words matter’ after the incident.
“Words matter. Earlier this week we said it again after graffiti declaring ‘killing of policemen’ this morning … a Molotov cocktail thrown at an occupied marked police car. It’s more time than ever to get together to come, to continue together, “he wrote.