Thursday, September 10, 2009

Queens Cop Critical After Beating

BY LIZ GOFF, Queens Gazette

An off-duty Queens cop remains in very critical condition at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Hospital this week, where surgeons performed extensive surgery to rebuild his face after he was brutally beaten with a tire iron.

Police said Officer Damian Bartels, who works out of the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills, was savagely beaten by three thugs, including one wielding a tire iron, during an August 29 road rage incident at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge.

Bartels was behind the wheel of his car at about 3:30 a.m. on August 29, driving his girlfriend and a cousin home to Queens when a Lexus with several occupants cut in front of them at the foot of the bridge, forcing Bartels' car to a stop, police said.

As both cars emptied and the shouting began, Bartels tried to intervene to calm things down. But the driver of the Lexus and his passengers started beating Bartels, one of them swinging a tire iron at the cop's head and face.

Police sources said Bartels was originally rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center, and then transferred to New York Presbyterian for treatment. Surgeons there worked for hours to reconstruct Bartels' nose, jaw and both eye sockets, the sources said.

Bartels' passengers told investigators the three men jumped back into the Lexus and fled the scene following the beating.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly visited Bartels at the hospital following the surgery and later met with the cop's family members.

Police are urging anyone with information on the three suspects sought in connection with the attack to call the Crimestoppers Hotline at 1-800-577- TIPS.

The Hotline is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bartels was behind the wheel of his car at about 3:30 a.m. on August 29, driving his girlfriend and a cousin home to Queens when a Lexus with several occupants cut in front of them at the foot of the bridge, forcing Bartels' car to a stop, police said.


What was he doing out at 3:30 AM?


Why did Bartel get out of the car?
He could have just kept driving and WAITED for an on duty officers assistance after calling 911.

Cops die, no one cries.

Anonymous said...

Savages are taking over. When armed police aren't safe, no one is.

Queens Crapper said...

What was he doing out at 3:30 AM?

The answer is: "driving his girlfriend and a cousin home to Queens"...

Anonymous said...

I don't think he was armed. Besides, if he had shot them, he'd probably go to jail.

Anonymous said...

So what if he's out at 3:30am...the man has a right to go out.

On the other hand, he should have just kept driving. At that hour, there's no telling who you're going to run into out there.

Anonymous said...

Please pray for Office Bartels, and pray that these 3 thugs are apprehended.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure why Bartles would not draw his gun unless he did not have a chance to.

Why did he get out of the car in the first place? This seems to be rule # 1 don't get out of the car to confront someone - especially if someone did not do damage or hurt anyone even if the action was unlawful or dangerious. It seems to me a call to 911 would have been called for, stay in the car to record the plates drive off elsewhere to avoid direct confrontation.

I hope he recovers from his vast injurys quickly and that his assailants are caught.

Anonymous said...

Not everyone works 9-5, he works till midnidght.He may not have drawn his gun because many cops chose not to carry their weapon off-duty.

Anonymous said...

a police officer is required to carry their firearm at all times. and so what if he was out at 3:30am. is that against the law? pray for his recovery and that the subhuman filth who did this is caught and left to rot in prison for the rest of their sorry days.