By Courtney Dentch
A Jamaica man bit off part of a court officer’s ear last Thursday when a state Supreme Court justice ordered him jailed on probation violations, the Queens district attorney said.
Court Officer Patrick Glynn lost a 2-inch piece of his left earlobe in the second incidence of violence in a courtroom in as many days. The day before the attack, a Long Island City man attempted to grab a court officer’s gun in state Supreme Court in Manhattan after he was convicted on drug charges.
In the Kew Gardens court, Gaeton Remy, 31, of 162-15 Highland Ave., allegedly became enraged during an appearance before Judge Stephen Knopf on probation violations for an earlier offense, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. When Knopf ordered bailiffs to take Remy into custody, Remy allegedly turned violent, attacking and biting Glynn and injuring two other officers.
“The defendant is alleged to have intentionally bitten off part of a court officer’s ear, disfiguring him, and to have also caused physical injuries to two other court officers, all of whom were acting in the performance of their lawful duty,” Brown said. “The charges are serious and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Remy has been charged with three counts of assault, criminal contempt, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration, Brown said. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted, Brown said.
Glynn, 45, and a four-year court veteran, was taken to Jamaica Hospital, but doctors there could not reattach his earlobe, Brown said. Two other court officers were also treated for minor injuries.
The fracas erupted as Remy protested against the allegation that he had violated his probation, Brown said. Remy was back in court because he had failed to sign paperwork, and Knopf ordered him to be remanded, he said.
Remy was originally charged with sexual abuse, assault and harassment of a woman in a July 6 incident, when he grabbed the woman’s breast, punched and kicked her, and fractured her wrist, Brown said. He had been sentenced to 60 days in jail and a year’s probation after pleading guilty to attempted assault of the woman.
In the Manhattan courtroom brawl, a Long Island City man attempted to grab a court officer’s gun, discharging one shot in state Supreme Court in Manhattan Oct. 9. Raphael Burgess, 25, had just been convicted of selling drugs near a school when he lunged for the weapon, court officials said.
The gun went off as Burgess was trying to wrest the gun from the court officer, and the bullet hit the wall. Judge Ronald Zwiebel came down from the bench and placed his foot on the weapon, allowing the officers to take it from Burgess. Five officers were treated for minor injuries.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 138.
