Two men accused of stabbing an off-duty NYPD detective during a Bronx robbery have been arraigned on a 13-count indictment that includes attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of a weapon, Bronx prosecutors said in court. Judge Alvin Yearwood ordered both men held without bail, and both pleaded not guilty.

Source: Officer.com / New York Post reporting

Detective Jose Mercedes, a 10-year veteran assigned to the Bronx's 44th Precinct, was unloading items from his car near East 208th Street and Steuben Avenue in Norwood on October 2 when two men on an e-bike allegedly tried to snatch his gold chain. Prosecutors say Mercedes identified himself as a police officer at least six times during the struggle. Assistant District Attorney Paul Irace told the court that while defendant Sneider Mejia was stabbing him repeatedly, Mercedes was attempting to place him under arrest.

Prosecutors said the detective was stabbed 10 times, most of the wounds to his arms as he tried to restrain the attackers, and that he chased the pair barefoot for about two blocks before collapsing from blood loss; earlier NYPD reporting put the number of wounds at seven. Mercedes underwent surgery to repair tendons in his left arm, and two weeks after the attack he still did not have the use of his left hand, Irace said. He was treated at Jacobi Medical Center and later released.

Prosecutors allege that Mejia, 24, and D'Angelo Caraballo, 25, fled New York, cut their hair and ditched their cellphones to disguise themselves. A U.S. Marshals task force tracked them to a basement in Lynn, Massachusetts, and brought them back to New York to face the charges. Federal authorities have identified both men as Dominican nationals in the United States without legal status; critics cited in local coverage say Mejia had an active ICE detainer — that is the government's and critics' claim, reported as such.

Source: Heritage Review / NY Post reporting

Both men remain in custody without bail as the case proceeds. The charges are allegations, and Mejia and Caraballo are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.