They lastly acquired him — however forgive me if I’m not popping the bubbly.
The monster who randomly sucker-punched me within the intestine whereas I used to be strolling to work two years in the past was arrested on Aug. 18 — and given an insulting $1 bail by infamously soft-on-crime Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.
Fortunately, he’s behind bars on Rikers Island — as a result of he allegedly tried to promote medication to an undercover cop simply earlier than he was collared. That case was given to Particular Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan and bail was set at $200,000.
Kamieo Caines, 36, a violent recidivist with 20 prior arrests who was on parole when he attacked me, wasn’t caught for 2 years — and when he lastly was, the statute of limitations on my assault case had already run out.
Police have been solely in a position to cost Caines in my assault as a result of cops have been actively searching for him within the drug case – which saved the clock in my case legally ticking, a police supply advised me.
However Caines was at all times their high suspect, cops advised me. So I, like 1000’s of NYC crime victims earlier than me, am compelled to marvel: What took so rattling lengthy?
I took a photograph of Caines on Chambers Road and Broadway moments after he slugged me as we handed one another at round 10 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2023. He didn’t say a phrase after hitting me and took off towards the close by No. 1/2/3 subway line. I gave the photograph to detectives.
His parole officer even confirmed his ID to cops after my assault. However I wasn’t in a position to decide him out in a photograph array on the precinct stationhouse.
Cops seemed for the ex-con, however their arms have been tied due to criminal-friendly bail reform.
No choose would have held him for easy assault — a misdemeanor. Since bail reform legal guidelines handed in 2019 the offense hasn’t been bail eligible — and police know that each one too properly.
Even when officers arrested Caines two years in the past, he would have been proper again out on the road. The system’s revolving door is one of many issues that frustrates cops and has so a lot of them racing for the exits.
It’s much more infuriating as a sufferer.
In what world ought to a repeat felony offender assault a stranger and stroll free for 2 years with out punishment?
This occurs extra usually than it ought to. There have been 29,963 misdemeanor assaults like mine within the metropolis thus far this 12 months, in accordance with NYPD knowledge. That’s a 2.6% drop from 30,754 on the identical time final 12 months. But it surely’s a 37.5% bounce from 5 years in the past.
I acquired the decision from Bragg’s workplace about Caines whereas I used to be away on trip.
Caines was busted on the intersection of Eighth Avenue and West thirty fifth Road in Midtown Aug. 18 after cops noticed him promoting medication to a different particular person, in accordance with a prison grievance in opposition to him. When cops searched Caines they found 17 vials of crack and 7 baggies of heroin on him, the paperwork exhibits.
Investigators with the NYPD Narcotics Bureau had been in search of Caines since he offered undercover cops virtually three ounces of cocaine over two days in November 2022 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in accordance with the paperwork. He was charged with three counts of prison sale of a managed substance.
Caines has 20 prior arrests for violent crimes on his document, together with assault and weapon possession, in accordance with police sources.
He was imprisoned for a conviction within the 2017 assault on two males with a field cutter throughout the night rush contained in the Fulton Road subway station in Manhattan. That bloodletting occurred about six blocks from the place he punched me.
Caines was discharged from Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County on Jan. 18, 2022. His parole ended on April 29 this 12 months.
He was convicted in 2013 for injuring an individual whereas confined at Rikers. He was sentenced to a few years in jail and 5 years parole for that. Whereas on parole, his bail was revoked twice for failure to seem, officers mentioned at his Aug. 20 arraignment at Manhattan Prison Court docket.
Caines was nonetheless raging throughout that current courtroom look.
At one level, he allegedly kicked one other inmate within the head a number of instances whereas ready in line to be searched. Then, he spit within the faces of two EMS employees who got here to take the person to the hospital, prosecutors and a police supply mentioned.
Caines additionally threatened “to kill everybody round him” throughout the consumption course of, officers mentioned.
I reported my assault so no person else would get harm. It appeared like the correct factor to do when so many individuals have been randomly struck whereas strolling down the road
I’ve a restraining order to maintain my attacker away from me for a 12 months, and Bragg’s workplace supplied to assist me with sufferer’s providers.
I’ve written loads of tales about crimes — from the horrible to the heartbreaking — as against the law reporter within the Huge Apple for greater than 20 years.
Tales about random assaults exploded since bail reform went into impact in 2019.
Since my assault, I discover all of them.
New York must do higher by me — and all the opposite victims of crime on this metropolis.
Further reporting by Kyle Schnitzer and Georgia Worrell.
