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New York Sun - New York,NY,USA
11 February 2007

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N.Y.P.D

Officer, Husband Arraigned in

A pregnant police officer who was caught driving the car from which her husband had shot and wounded an undercover officer in a street confrontation was arraigned Sunday on charges including tampering with evidence, prosecutors said.

Jacqueline Melendez-Rivera, 37, was charged with obstructing governmental administration, hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence, said prosecutors, who accused her of trying to cover up her husband's crime by driving away his car.

Her husband, Jose Rivera, 31, was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon in Saturday's shooting of Officer Andrew Suarez.

Mr. Suarez, who was struck in the back, was in stable condition Sunday at a hospital, police said. He was expected to make a full recovery.

The violence unfolded just after 4 a.m. in Brooklyn's Park Slope section. Investigators said Suarez and three fellow plainclothes officers pulled their unmarked car over to get a closer look at a vehicle driving behind them.

The driver of the other vehicle leaned across the body of a male passenger, shouted "You got a beef?" and fired a shot at Mr. Suarez, who was driving the unmarked police car, police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. A second shot may also have been fired, Mr. Kelly said.

Shortly afterward, police stopped a vehicle matching the description of the one that had carried the attackers. They found Mrs. Melendez-Rivera driving it and arrested her, Mr. Kelly said.

Mr. Rivera later was detained at the couple's nearby home. Police said they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun in a yard on the same block.

Mrs. Melendez-Rivera posted $50,000 bond Sunday and was released, prosecutors said. Her husband was jailed without bail.

The husband's lawyer, Ezra Levy, said his client maintained his innocence and would be vindicated soon.

"My client denies doing any of the actions he's charged with," Mr. Levy said.

The wife's lawyer, Chris Devane, did not immediately return a telephone message left with his answering service on Sunday.

Mrs. Melendez-Rivera, who was suspended from duty, is a 13-year New York Police Department veteran and the mother of three boys. Neighbors said she is expecting her fourth child this spring.

The family lives in the Park Slope row house in which Mrs. Melendez-Rivera grew up.

Percival Morrison, 80, said he has known Mrs. Melendez-Rivera since she was a baby and she was always respectful.

"She's always been a nice person from a child coming up," he said.

Mr. Suarez, appointed to the police force in 2003, is the first city officer shot this year and the third wounded by gunfire since October.

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Article sourced from

New York Sun - New York,NY,USA11 February 2007

Officer, Husband Arraigned in

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New York Sun - New York,NY,USA
11 February 2007