Man, 36, allegedly punched and kicked NYPD officer during fight at Staten Island Ferry terminal

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – An NYPD officer was attacked while responding to a fight at the St. George Ferry Terminal, police said.

Joe Maldonado, 36, who lives at the Richmond Terrace Houses, was involved in a physical altercation with a suspect who remains at large in the terminal at Bay Street and Richmond Terrace on Oct. 18 around 8:30 p.m., the criminal complaint said. report and police.

A uniformed police officer responded to the fight, which took place in a hallway Friday evening, when Maldonado reportedly waved his arms, tensed his body and clenched his fists.

Maldonado allegedly hit the officer on the shoulder.

After being handcuffed and forced to the ground, Maldonado then kicked the officer in the right leg, the complaint alleges.

The officer suffered injuries including redness, swelling and pain in his leg, police said.

Maldonado has been charged with assault on a police officer, assault, obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest and intimidation.

Maldonado, who is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 175 pounds, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is free on $60,000/$20,000 cash bail. He is due back in criminal court in St. George on December 2, according to public records.

Defense attorney Lord-Kelvin Richards defended the innocence of his client, Maldonado.

“Mr. Maldonado denies these allegations,” Richards said. “An unarrested other attacked him and he was only defending himself.”