A shocking incident occurred on the Upper East Side of New York City when a woman intentionally struck a NYPD officer with her car, declaring, “F— these cops, it’s a lesson to him.” The suspect, Sahara Dula, 24, was driving her black Lexus in the wrong direction on Wednesday while under the influence of marijuana when she collided with the officer, according to officials.
Dula later confessed to investigators that she purposely hit the officer because he wouldn’t move out of her way. She exclaimed, “F— these cops! He wouldn’t move!” immediately after the incident. A source revealed that she also stated, “F— these cops, it’s a lesson to him, and hopefully he doesn’t want to be a cop anymore.”
Video footage captured the incident, showing Dula driving against the flow of traffic on Park Avenue near East 71st Street. The area had been cordoned off by officers who were investigating an unrelated robbery at a nearby store. The video shows one officer approaching Dula’s car and instructing her to move into the correct lane. Instead of complying, she accelerated and collided with the officer, causing him to be thrown onto the hood of her car before falling to the ground.
Witnesses rushed to the aid of the injured officer, who suffered a broken leg and bruises on various parts of his body. Dula was immediately taken into custody and is facing multiple charges, including first-degree attempted assault, attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, and operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs and reckless driving. Marijuana and rolling papers were found in her car, and she admitted to smoking marijuana.
During Dula’s arraignment, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Lucy Shephard stated that the suspect had confessed to smoking marijuana. The judge set her bail at $25,000, but she has not yet posted bail.
Patrick Hendry, President of the Police Benevolent Association, expressed concern over the charges brought against Dula, questioning why she is not facing an attempted murder charge. Hendry described the incident as a vicious attack and emphasized the need for harsher penalties to deter assaults on police officers.
Law enforcement sources have indicated that Dula may have avoided an attempted murder charge due to uncertainties surrounding her intention to kill the officer. In court, Dula’s lawyer mentioned that she runs her own company, where she mentors children on Saturdays and strives to keep them away from drugs and gang activities.
This deliberate act against a police officer highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement personnel on a daily basis. The incident has sparked discussions on the leniency of charges in such cases and the need for stronger measures to protect police officers from assaults.
