Sahara Dula, a 24-year-old resident of Brooklyn, was taken into custody following an altercation where she allegedly struck a New York City police officer with her vehicle. According to court documents, Dula has confessed to the incident and maintains that it was not a mere accident. The officer had apparently approached her, informing her that she was driving in the incorrect lane, when the collision occurred.
“I told the cop I wanted to go straight, and he wouldn’t move, so I hit him,” court papers quote Dula as saying to investigators, according to the New York Post.
“I did it on purpose,’’ Dula said.
According to court documents, Dula said“F–k these cops! He wouldn’t move!’’
Police said the woman also said, “It’s a lesson to him, and hopefully he doesn’t want to be a cop anymore.”
NEW: New York City driver intentionally plows her car into an NYPD officer, telling authorities she wanted to teach him a "lesson."
This is what happens when you convince people that cops are the enemy. Terrible.
Sahara Dula, who is a criminal justice graduate, was driving the… pic.twitter.com/AYU1Cr2DSS
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 19, 2024
Ruchiran Dias, the officer involved, has been identified by WPIX-TV. As per WNBC-TV, Dias sustained a broken leg and multiple bruises. The incident occurred when the officer approached a Lexus that was traveling in the wrong direction on Park Avenue. The police were already present in the area due to an unrelated robbery at a high-end clothing store, as reported by the New York Post.
In the video footage, the vehicle abruptly moves forward, striking the officer and causing him to roll off the car’s hood and onto the pavement.
According to court documents cited by the Post, Dula, the driver of the Lexus, is facing charges including first-degree attempted assault, attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs, and reckless driving.
In court on Friday, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Lucy Shephard stated that Dula has confessed to using marijuana. As a result, the accused has been remanded in custody with a bail set at $25,000.
possibly this pic.twitter.com/iVW2DYOroD
— Young's Modulus (@y_modulus) January 19, 2024
According to WPIX, Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, stated that Dias was forcefully knocked down to the ground. Hendry expressed concern that Dias could have lost his life in the incident and strongly believes that Dula intended to cause harm, going as far as suggesting that she should have been charged with attempted murder.
“He could have been killed. We believe she tried to kill him,” Hendry said.
“It’s clear she tried to mow down a New York City police officer,” Hendry said. “The criminal justice system is broken.”
