By Stephen Stirling
Peter Dowden, 17, of 181 Hemlock St. in Brooklyn was charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, robbery, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. He was remanded without bail following his arraignment on Dec. 27 and if convicted, he faces between 25 years and life in prison. Two others, 19-year-old Patrick Mitchell and a 15-year-old boy, were also charged with attempted murder and robbery in connection with the incident, although the criminal complaint filed by the Queens district attorney does not state that either had a weapon. Bail for both defendants was set at $60,000. Officers responded to a call of a food deliveryman being robbed shortly after 10 p.m. and arrived to find three suspects and the victim on the street near the corner of 86th Street and 91st Avenue. All three suspects fled the scene when confronted by officers, police said. Two of the suspects, Mitchell and the 15-year-old, were arrested without incident a short time later, but Dowden took off running through a nearby park, according to police. Authorities said when Dowden was spotted by police a short time later near 95th Street and 89th Avenue, he fired several rounds at the officers with a pistol. One of the officers in pursuit of Dowden returned fire, shooting off five rounds, but no one was injured in the exchange.Police said Dowden then darted behind a building and hid, and police sealed off the area. Authorities said Dowden left his hiding place, hopped a fence and was then surrounded by officers. Dowden then pointed his weapon at an officer and pulled the trigger, but the weapon misfired, allowing police to tackle and arrest Dowden without any further incident, according to authorities. Police said four officers were taken to Jamaica Hospital with minor injuries. None of the suspects sustained any injury during the incident, according to police. Police said they recovered a 9mm pistol, a cell phone and an undetermined amount of U.S. currency from the scene and the investigation was ongoing.Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at (718)229-0300 Ext. 162.
