By Sarina Trangle
A grand jury declined to indict a Jamaica man accused of beating an off-duty sergeant with the top charge of attempted murder, the Queens district attorney’s office said.
Jurors handed up first- and second-degree assault charges Monday in the case against Hayden Holder, the DA said.
Holder allegedly punched Sgt. Mohamed Deen in the head, knocking him to the ground in front of St. John’s Express, at 118-14 Liberty Ave. in Richmond Hill, at 4:40 a.m. Nov. 17. prosecutors said.
The DA contended Holder continued the assault by punching and kicking the sergeant and slamming his head into the pavement.
Brown said the alleged physical assault followed a verbal dispute between the two men.
Deen, an 18-year NYPD veteran, was rushed to a hospital and placed in a medically induced coma while doctors treated him for multiple facial fractures and hemorrhaging in his brain, the DA said.
Holder’s attorney did not immediately return a call for comment.
Robert Ganley, vice president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said Deen has not yet been able to return to work.
“He’s coming along. It’s a process,” Ganley said.
Ganley said the union was “disappointed” that the grand jury did not hand down an attempted murder charge and that Deen’s colleagues were waiting for the trial.
“We’re looking forward to the trial and ensuring that the individual does not see the light of day for a very, very long time,” Ganley said.
If convicted, Holder faces up to 25 years in prison.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
