Centereach Man Gets 16 Years In Prison For Stabbing Suffolk Cop

CENTEREACH, NY — A Centereach man was sentenced to 16 years in prison Monday after he stabbed and seriously injured a Suffolk County Police Officer following an attempted traffic stop in 2021.

Nunez, 27, pleaded guilty in February to aggravated assault of a police officer, assault, assault on a police officer, second-degree assault and third-degree assault, as well as resisting arrest, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash with injury, and driving while impaired by drugs, prosecutors said.

He will also receive five years of post-release supervision.

On April 10, 2021, at about 10:30 p.m., Officer Christopher Racioppo saw an erratic vehicle with its lights off on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue, according to court evidence.

When Racioppo activated his emergency lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, Nunez, the driver, sped away.

Racioppo pursued him. Nunez then crashed into another vehicle at a high rate of speed, totaling both vehicles and leaving the other driver with a minor injury.

Nunez then exited his vehicle. Despite directives from Racioppo to stop, Nunez fled on foot, prosecutors said.

Racioppo then chased Nunez into a backyard, where Nunez stabbed him in his upper left leg, severing his femoral artery, officials said.

Witnesses and other responding officers at the scene were able to restrain Nunez and render
lifesaving aid to Racioppo.

He was in extremely critical condition after losing nearly his entire blood supply, prosecutors said.

Racioppo was taken to Long Island Community Hospital and then brought to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was intubated and underwent life-saving blood transfusions and surgery.

“Police officers are subjected to threats and danger on the job every time they show up for work.
When an honest hardworking police officer is attacked, it’s an attack on our community and order,” said Raymond Tierney, the Suffolk County district attorney.“This defendant showed no respect for the law, the victim he crashed into nor the officer who attempted to stop him from doing even more damage, and now he will be serving a lengthy prison sentence for his actions.”