NEW YORK (AP) – The case against a man with a lengthy arrest record who is accused of gunning down a New York City police officer will be presented to a grand jury this week, authorities said.
Tyrone Howard, who is accused of stealing a bike and fatally shooting Officer Randolph Holder in the head after a chase Tuesday night, was arraigned late Wednesday in Manhattan Criminal Court. He did not enter a plea after being charged with first-degree murder and robbery and was ordered held without bail.
Assistant District Attorney Linda Ford said the case against Howard would be presented to a grand jury on Friday and Monday. His attorney, Brian Kennedy, did not ask for bail and said he wasn’t sure yet if his client would testify before the grand jury.
Howard had an extensive arrest record and got out of jail and into a drug treatment program months before police say he killed Holder and while he was wanted in another shooting.
Police Commissioner William Bratton described Howard, 30, as a dangerous career criminal who never should have been on the streets, calling him a “poster boy for not being diverted” to a treatment-oriented drug court instead of to prison.