A Brooklyn man shot in the leg by police last week after allegedly driving a stolen van at them was arraigned from a hospital bed Monday — marking the 39th time he’s been arrested, according to the judge in his case.
Paul Reed, 61, was recovering from the gunshot wound he received on Jan. 6, when he is accused of speeding at two officers who saw him and Bernard Bamberg, 58, breaking into a car at the corner of Georgia Ave. and Pitkin Ave. in Brownsville Wednesday night, according to the NYPD.
When the cops tried to stop the men, Reed jumped into the commercial van and gunned it towards them, police said. The officers shot at Reed, who was hit in the leg while behind the wheel. It was unclear where the cops were standing when Reed was shot.
The officers then pursued the hot van to the intersection of Jamaica and Pennsylvania Aves. in Bushwick, where Reed smashed into another marked NYPD car, according to prosecutors.
Two officers were injured. They were taken to Jamaica Hospital and released, though neither is back on duty yet, according to prosecutors.
Reed disputed the events from his hospital bed during a video arraignment.
“The police rammed me,” he exclaimed, before quickly being shushed by his lawyer.
Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Gina Abadi noted Reed’s long arrest record and suggested that he might have substance abuse or mental health issues.
Reed has 10 felony convictions and 18 misdemeanor convictions, Assistant District Attorney Wilfredo Cotto said Monday.
Reed, who was hit with assault charges in the case, also has two open felonies for grand larceny in Manhattan and Queens, according to prosecutors. Abadi set bail at $100,000.
Bamberg was also arrested and charged with drug possession, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief.
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