23-year-old thug suspected of beating off-duty NYPD officer in caught-on-camera assault is nabbed

A brutal attack on an off-duty NYPD officer in The Bronx has led to the arrest of one of the suspects, Taveon Hargrove, in Virginia. The 23-year-old, who already has a lengthy rap sheet with more than a dozen arrests, was apprehended by the US Marshals’ Regional Fugitive Task Force in North Chesterfield.

Hargrove, considered armed and dangerous by authorities, had fled New York City with his mother to a friend’s home in Virginia after police released a wanted poster for his arrest. He was found hiding in the garage of the house, where he had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor. When officers arrived, he attempted to run but was eventually apprehended after a scuffle with a police dog.

Photos of Hargrove after his arrest show him with a badly bloodied face. His criminal history includes 13 prior arrests, including a recent Bronx weapons-possession charge. In the latest incident, he and an accomplice attacked the off-duty officer on a sidewalk, robbing him of his service weapon, a Glock 19 .9mm handgun.

The injured officer, who has not been identified, is recovering from the attack and is scheduled for surgery. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed hope for his full recovery and emphasized the department’s commitment to pursuing those who assault police officers. Hargrove’s violent accomplice remains at large, but his father was arrested for allegedly using the stolen credit card of the officer at several Bronx bodegas.

The NYPD continues its investigation into the incident, with Commissioner Tisch warning potential assailants that they will be pursued and brought to justice. The community and law enforcement are standing together in support of the injured officer and in the quest for justice in this disturbing case.