Moment NYC motorist throws an 'unknown chemical' on officer before 'firing a Molotov cocktail at a patrol car' during an 8am traffic stop amid anti-cop protests across the US
A driver allegedly threw an unknown chemical at a cop before he chucked a lit Molotov cocktail at a New York City police car on Saturday morning, the latest brazen act as the city experiences a surge in crime.
The NYPD released a video of the beginning of the incident, which took place just before 8am on Saturday morning in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
In the video, a police officer gets out of their patrol car and approaches the driver's side of the vehicle, a 2000 Lincoln Town Car, while another officer approaches from the other side of the vehicle.
The driver had allegedly run a red light prior to being pulled over.
One officer knocks on the driver's side window of the car and the motorist rolls down the window.
The NYPD released video of a shocking attack on an officer during a traffic stop on Saturday
The traffic stop began around 8am, when police pulled over a 2000 Lincoln Town Car after the driver of the vehicle allegedly ran a red light in East Flatbush, Brooklyn
Officers approached the vehicle asking for a license and registration, which the driver claimed not to have
The cop asks the man behind the wheel for license and registration, which the driver says he doesn't have.
The police officer then makes note of the darkness of the windows, asking if there are curtains covering them up.
The officer asks the driver for his license and registration again, but the driver begins getting out of the vehicle.
'What are you getting out for?,' asks the officer.
After some cross talk, the officer gives the man permission to open the door to the car.
Suddenly, the driver's side door flings open and the motorist chucks an unknown liquid chemical on to the officer, who recoils and backs away.
The driver proceeded to get out of the vehicle and toss a liquid chemical at the officer
After dumping the liquid on the officer, the cop recoiled and the suspect fled the scene
'Ah s**t,' the officer exclaims several times, as the other officer asks what just happened.
PIX 11 reports that the officers called for backup as the driver fled the scene in his vehicle.
A few blocks away from the scene of the chemical throw, the 44-year-old suspect - who has not been identified - stopped his car, got out, and threw a lit Molotov cocktail at a cop car, according to police.
Police say the projectile missed the vehicle and shattered on the ground, with no officers injured by the errant throw.
Pictured: One of the Molotov cocktails police discovered. The suspect threw a lit Molotov cocktail at the police, missing his target as the projectile shattered on the ground
Afterwards, the driver allegedly hit a parked SUV with his car and police were able to take the driver into custody, where charges against him are pending.
Three additional Molotov cocktails were found in the suspect's vehicle after his arrest, according to police.
The NYPD posted a picture of one of the Molotov cocktails on Twitter.
The officer who was doused with the unknown chemical was treated at the hospital for chemical burns, as well as for blurry vision.
Officials told ABC7 that the chemical may have been bleach or peroxide, but it's not confirmed at this time.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted about the incident on Saturday afternoon.
'Words matter,' Shea said, alluding to the anti-police discourse in the wake of the high-profile police shootings of Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo.
'Earlier this week we said that again after graffiti that proclaimed 'kill cops.' This morning..a Molotov cocktail thrown at an occupied marked police car. Now more than ever is the time to come together, to move forward together.'
Shea also said, 'NYPD cops will not relent in their mission to keep you safe.'
Footage on the Citizen app showed the aftermath of the Lincoln Town Car's crash
The NYPD faces a challenging mission, as New York City is in the middle of one of its biggest crime surges in recent memory.
Saturday's incident comes as shootings have increased 77 percent over the past year as of March, according to the New York Police Department.
The NYPD reported 99 shooting incidents in March 2021, compared to 56 a year ago, representing an increase of nearly 77 percent, even as police drastically stepped up their efforts to arrest suspects on weapons charges.
There were also 492 gun arrests citywide last month, which is an increase of nearly 67 percent compared to March 2020.
Overall crime went up 2.4 percent according to the March statistics, compared with the same time last year.
That increase is driven by a 36 percent jump in murders and a 35 percent increase in auto thefts.
