Detective’s Bullet Kills Corona Man
Prosecutors are investigating the death of a 22-year-old man who was shot and killed by a police officer during a stop on the Grand Central Parkway in East Elmhurst last Thursday, Oct. 4, according to authorities.
Reportedly, Noel Polanco of Lefrak City in Corona was fatally shot by an NYPD detective after being stopped on the eastbound lanes of the parkway near the LaGuardia Airport exit at around 5:15 a.m.
According to police, members of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit Apprehension Team, traveling in two unmarked police vans, spotted Polanco behind the wheel of a black 2012 Honda hybrid which was moving erratically in the right lane. Two female passengers were riding along with Polanco, who was reportedly on his way home from an Astoria bar where he worked.
Law enforcement sources said the vehicle then swerved to the left, passing between the unmarked cruisers before continuing on in the left lane. Reportedly, the officers observed the vehicle tailgating another.
Seconds later, authorities noted, the sedan allegedly swerved back to the right, between the police cars and to the right lane. At that point, NYPD sources stated, the officers pulled the vehicle over, with one of the unmarked vans stopping in front of the car and the other stopping behind.
Police said a detective-identified as Det. Hassan Hamdy-and a sergeant, both of whom were wearing uniforms, exited from the front van and approached the driver’s side of the sedan. After Hamdy ordered Polanco to raise his hands, it was reported, Polanco was observed reaching to the floor of his car.
Believing that Polanco was going for a weapon, published reports noted, Hamdy fired a shot which struck Polanco in the chest. One of the women inside the car at the time reportedly claimed that the shot was fired before anyone could raise their hands.
EMS units responded to the scene and rushed Polanco to New York Hospital Queens, where he died a short time later. Reportedly, no firearms were found inside the man’s vehicle.
The case was presented to the NYPD Internal Affairs Division for further investigation. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced last Friday that his office would also conduct a “full, fair and complete” inquiry.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly remarked to NY1 News on Monday, Oct. 8, that he expected the case would ultimately be brought before a grand jury.
“We have not spoken to the shooting officer,” Kelly told NY1. “That is our normal protocol. The reason we don’t do that is because there’s the potential of getting immunity to the shooter in cases like that. So the investigation is going forward, but it appears to me that the grand jury will have to be involved in this investigation.”
