Ex-Cop Who Shot Man In Face Escapes Attempted Murder Charge: DA

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK -- A ex-cop accused of shooting a man in the mouth while off-duty escaped attempted murder charges and faces a maximum four-year sentence if convicted, according to prosecutors.

Former NYPD sergeant Ritchard Blake, 40, was arraigned on evidence tampering charges for dropping a knife next Thavone Santana's body after the East New York shooting on Aug 2, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

Surveillance video shows Santana creeping up behind Blake near Livonia and New Jersey avenues at 5 a.m., when Blake suddenly turns, backs up and shoots Santana in the face, prosecutors said.

Santana and Blake had fought hours earlier and the Daily News identified the wounded man as a "romantic rival."

Video then shows Blake pulling a knife out of his pocket, dropping it on the ground next to Santana, then spotting the security camera and picking the knife back up, prosecutors said.

Blake was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court Friday, charged with two counts of tampering with physical evidence and released without bail, said prosecutors.

The ex-cop is slated to return to court on April 17 and could face up to four years in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.