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Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Wednesday, June 3, that a Bronx man has been indicted for assault for allegedly attacking two FDNY emergency medical service technicians (EMTs) who responded to assist him in the University Heights section of The Bronx earlier this year.
Clark said the defendant, Jose Bencosme, 22, of Sedgwick Avenue, The Bronx, was arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault and two counts of second-degree harassment before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goldsmith. She said supervised release was continued, and Bencosme is due back in court in August 2026.
“These dedicated EMTs arrived at the defendant’s residence to render medical aid,” the district attorney said. “The defendant allegedly hit and punched the paramedics multiple times. Violence against first responders will not be tolerated.”
According to the investigation, on April 9, at around 10 p.m., FDNY EMS Technicians Felix Mezquita, Jr, and Ali Issa responded to a Sedgwick Avenue address. In the course of responding to this call, Bencosme allegedly punched Mezquita, Jr. in the face and grappled with him, causing the latter to hit his head against a wall.
The court heard that Issa attempted to help his partner, and Bencosme allegedly also punched Issa in the face and head multiple times. Prosecutors said Mezquita, Jr. suffered a laceration to his head, requiring around five staples, Issa suffered bruising and swelling to his face and head and both victims received treatment at St. Barnabas Hospital.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ashley Ward-Willis, under the supervision of Justin Daly, deputy chief of Trial Bureau 30, Julie Deleon, chief of Trial Bureau 30, and under the overall supervision of James Brennan, deputy chief of the Trial Division and Theresa Gottlieb, chief of the Trial Division.
Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Myn-Nyema Caldwell and NYPD Officer Pamela Sosa from the 46th Precinct for their work on the case.
Norwood News has reached out to the Bronx DA’s office to ask if there is any evidence that Bencosme was mentally unstable at the time of the incident and will share any updates we receive.
Bencosme is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.