By Philip Newman
Two New York City detectives assigned to the Queens district attorney’s squad have been praised by the DA himself as “real-life super heroes” for thwarting an attack on a Russian tourist by a knife-wielding assailant in Hollywood.
Queens DA Richard Brown said the incident occurred along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame Nov. 18 when a man grabbed the tourist and stabbed him in the neck. New York City Detectives Albert Ramos and Daniel Mulligan grabbed the knife wielder and held him for Los Angeles police.
“The detectives are real-life super heroes,” said Brown. “Even though they were outside their jurisdiction the detectives did not hesitate to act. They quickly stepped in, apprehended the suspect and saved the tourist from further harm.”
Police Commissioner William Bratton said, “It is particularly gratifying to know Detectives Ramos and Mulligan were compelled to act, though they were 3,000 miles from New York City. Their swift and decisive action almost certainly saved a life.”
After dialing 911, the detectives held the suspected attacker and turned him over to Los Angeles police. He was identified as Donald Monroe Offerman, a 51-year-old homeless man with a numerous arrest record and a history of mental illness, the DA said.
The tourist was identified as Michael Makrich, 32, a Russian visiting the United States. He was taken to Cedars Sinai Hospital, where he was treated for what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
Ramos and Mulligan were in Los Angeles working out details for the extradition of several people indicted last month in Queens on enterprise corruption and other charges relating to a $32 million gambling ring. The detectives had just finished arrangements and stopped for coffee in the courtyard of the Hollywood and Highland Center, located adjacent to the world-famous TCL Chinese Theatre along Hollywood’s Walk of Fame when they witnessed the scene of the attack.
Offerman was charged with one count of attempted murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, the DA said.
