Maximum In Police Officer Stabbing

MOUNT KISCO, NY — A Mount Vernon resident trying to steal truck rims at a dealership on Bedford Road begins a sentence of 40 years to life in state prison for attempting to kill the police officer who chased him. The knife thrusts tore up but didn't penetrate the bulletproof vest.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Ronald Clare Greenland was sentenced by County Court Judge Susan Cacace on six counts, all to run concurrently:

• Attempted Murder in the 1st Degree, a class A-1 felony: 40 years to life in prison.
• Attempted Assault in the 1st Degree, a class C violent felony: 15 years plus 5 years post-release supervision (PRS)
• Attempted Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer, a class C violent felony: 20 years plus 5 years PRS
• Assault in the 2nd Degree, a class D felony: 7 years
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree, a class D felony: 2-1/3 to 7 years
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 5th Degree, a class A misdemeanor: 1 year

Following sentencing, Scarpino said, “We have no tolerance for attacks on our police officers and will prosecute aggressively and to the fullest extent of the law. We are pleased with the sentence imposed by the judge for this crime.”

The incident started at 2:15 a.m. Nov. 8, 2016. Greenland was attempting to steal rims from a truck at a car dealership at 175 North Bedford Rd. in Mount Kisco.

Police had been conducting increased patrols of local car dealerships in response to several thefts of tires, rims and other car parts during the overnight hours.

Westchester County Police Officer David Sanchez was on patrol when he spotted a suspicious green Honda Odyssey van in the dealership parking lot. The Honda had been reported stolen in Scarsdale in September. The officer attempted to pull over the van at a traffic light but the 55-year-old sped off.

A high-speed chase ensued.

Greenland stopped the van on Knowlton Avenue, got out and began running. The officer chased him through dark backyards, eventually catching him on Dickson Lane in Mount Kisco.

Greenland hid in a wooded area as Sanchez, with gun drawn, demanded he show his hands and come out. Greenland remained crouched in the dark with his hands hidden. When Sanchez holstered his weapon and approached, Greenland came to his feet and stabbed Sanchez several times in the chest.

Greenland was eventually subdued and taken into custody when backup officers arrived.

The knife he used to stab the officer was recovered. Sanchez was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and as a result the knife did not injure him, Scarpino said. The vest, however, had multiple tears in the chest area where Greenland attempted to stab him.

After Greenland's arrest, police discovered a car jack and cinder blocks beneath a pickup truck on the car dealership's property.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Hochheiser, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau.

He also faces federal charges due to the fact that he had previously been deported back to his home country Jamaica and illegally returned to the United States. He was deported based upon his prior felony conviction relating to his participation in a car theft ring.

SEE ALSO:

• DA: Burglar Who Stabbed Cop Faces Local, Immigration Charges
  
• Burglary Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder of Cop