NJ Man Charged In New Year's Rampage In NYC That Injured 9
NEW YORK CITY — A New Jersey man was indicted on multiple charges Tuesday after authorities said he injured several people by driving his car into crowds gathered following the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square.
Mohamed Alaouie, 44, of Fort Lee, was charged with multiple counts of first-degree assault and vehicular assault following the Jan. 1 rampage, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg said in a news release.
Prosecutors also indicted Alaouie on charges of reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled substance and criminal obstruction.
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“(Alaouie) allegedly careened through packed sidewalks and streets during the busiest time of the year in midtown. His recklessness endangered the lives of countless New Yorkers and visitors who were ringing in the New Year,” Bragg said in a statement.
According to prosecutors, Alaouie and his girlfriend were in his car at the corner of West 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue before the attack. Around 1:30 a.m., a bystander called police after authorities said they saw Alaouie assaulting the woman inside the car.
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When police arrived, prosecutors said they instructed Alaouie to put his car in park, but instead, he reversed and drove onto a West 33rd Street sidewalk that was packed with dozens of people. Prosecutors said Alaouie struck one victim person before driving back onto the road and turning north onto Seventh Avenue.
Prosecutors said Alaouie drove against traffic as officers pursued his vehicle on foot. After becoming stuck in traffic, prosecutors said Alaouie rammed several cars in front of and behind him.
At that point, prosecutors said Alaouie sped up and struck a food cart on the sidewalk, hitting three pedestrians and pinning two underneath. He fled westbound on 34th Street, according to prosecutors, before he struck several other cars between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.
At least three more pedestrians were injured before Alaouie’s car crashed into another vehicle and broke down, prosecutors said.
Police arrested Alaouie and recovered 16 glassines of cocaine at the scene, prosecutors said. Two more were found in his pants at the hospital the next day, according to charging documents.
Prosecutors said one victim suffered a concussion during the rampage while another remains in “constant pain” from injuries to their elbow joint. A victim who was pinned beneath the food cart suffered skin and tissue tears and required physical therapy to walk without assistance, prosecutors said.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Alaouie’s last name. The story has been updated with the correct spelling.
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