Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of SAHARA DULA, 24, for driving the wrong way on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side and intentionally hitting an NYPD Officer with her car when he approached the vehicle. DULA was charged Friday in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree; one count of Attempted Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer; two counts of Assault in the Second Degree; one count of Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs; and one count of Reckless Driving. [1]
“This defendant not only allegedly endangered the lives of countless people travelling on Park Avenue, but she deliberately sought to harm an NYPD officer. We have no tolerance for this type of dangerous attack against police officers and we will continue to treat this matter with the seriousness that it deserves. I hope the officer who was injured has a full recovery and thank him for his service to keep New Yorkers safe,” said District Attorney Bragg.
According to court documents and statements made on the record, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on January 17, 2024, DULA drove her black Lexus northbound in the southbound lanes of Park Avenue for approximately 10 blocks while under the influence of marijuana.
She swerved in and out of traffic and changed speeds until she reached East 71st Street, where she paused in the middle of the intersection while she was blocked by traffic.
A police officer in the area approached DULA’s vehicle on foot to direct her into the proper lane of traffic. Instead of complying, DULA accelerated and hit him with her vehicle, causing him to roll up onto the hood of the car and fall to the ground. She was eventually arrested by another police officer in the area.
The officer hit by DULA continues to suffer pain and has been unable to return to work.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant D.A. Elizabeth Barry, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Harrison Schweiloch and Annie Siegel (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Burau 60), Chuck Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60) and Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).
D.A. Bragg thanked officers Ruchiran Dias, Kathleen Danaher and Rajhai Brown of the 19th precinct.
[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.
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