Man who threatened ‘to kill NYPD cops’ was released before going on wild crime spree

A troubled Lengthy Island man threatened on-line to “kill each NYPD officer” earlier than embarking on a weird crime spree that solely ended when he allegedly attacked a cop in Westchester County, law-enforcement sources instructed The Publish.

The three-day drama started when Michael Apawu, 20, walked right into a Nassau police station Wednesday and requested to come up with NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, then lapsed right into a rant in regards to the CIA and the FBI, police sources stated.

The Lengthy Island division quickly turned conscious of Apawu’s alleged on-line threats, which have since been taken down, sources stated. The Publish has seen the rantings.

“I'll kill each NYPD officer,” Apawu allegedly posted on Twitter, tagging Sewell’s official Twitter account. “Retweet’s PCs twitter [sic] the place you at, you don’t imagine me.”

Cops within the Massive Apple and Nassau County, the place Apawu lives, turned involved sufficient that they started monitoring Apawu’s whereabouts and reached out to his dad and mom, sources stated.

“Michael has been wired recently,” his dad, a New York Metropolis transit employee who lives in Woodmere, instructed police, in keeping with sources. “Appearing unusually.”

NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell and metropolis cops had been allegedly threatened on social media by Nassau County resident Michael Apawu, sources stated.
Paul Martinka

Hours later, Apawu’s automotive was noticed close to Metropolis Corridor and NYPD headquarters in Decrease Manhattan, placing police on additional alert, sources stated.

Police then staked out at his Woodmere house and picked Apawu up after he was dropped off by an acquaintance, sources stated.

In line with the sources, Apawu was taken to Nassau County Medical Heart for a psychiatric analysis however launched when docs decided he didn't must be admitted to the psych ward.

He was launched to NYPD cops in Manhattan, the place he was charged with aggravated harassment for the threatening tweets. acquired a desk-appearance ticket after which freed with no court docket look.

An aggravated harassment cost just isn't eligible for bail below the state’s criminal-justice reforms. However even earlier than the reforms took maintain, it's doubtless that Apawu would have acquired a DAT and been launched anyway, sources stated.

They famous that he has no prior legal historical past and that the cost would have sometimes resulted in a DAT beforehand, too.

Then Friday, Apawu popped up within the city of Greenburgh in Westchester County, the place he was charged with making an attempt to steal a automotive.

Sources stated he jumped right into a working automotive however then acquired out and fled when the proprietor confirmed up. He was nabbed by native cops a short while later.

NYPD police officers patrol city subways.
Michael Apawu of Lengthy Island allegedly threatened NYPD cops on social media.
Christopher Sadowski

Whereas being held on the native police station, Apawu allegedly grabbed a Greenburgh cop by the throat and needed to be hit with a Taser, resulting in extra assault fees, sources stated.

He was being held with out bail on the Westchester County Jail on Sunday, information present.

Apawu was beforehand listed as an emotionally disturbed particular person and briefly hospitalized after a road-rage incident on Lengthy Island on Oct. 2, the sources stated.

In that case he was accused of punching one other driver’s window and yelling, “I may kill you!” the police sources stated. It’s unclear whether or not there have been any fees within the case.

Sources stated Apawu is from Georgia and moved north a number of weeks in the past along with his father.

In line with the sources, Apawu adopted a number of high-profile accounts on Twitter, together with Sewell, President Joe Biden, Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former New York Metropolis Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Further reporting by Tina Moore

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