23-Year-Old Admits Stabbing Good Samaritan Who Tried To Help Cops

Crime & Safety

Officers from the New Paltz Police Department were attempting to make an arrest on Main Street, when a group tried to stop them.

KINGSTON, NY — An Ulster County man has admitted stabbing someone who was simply coming to the aid of police.

The Ulster County District Attorney's Office says that on Friday, 23-year-old Dasany Naveo, of Ellenville, pled guilty to felony first degree attempted assault before the Honorable James Farrell. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2025.

According to the DA's Office, on August 6, 2023, while officers from the Town of New Paltz Police Department were attempting to make an arrest on Main Street, Naveo and others interfered.

A bystander then tried to pull Naveo away from police. Naveo then chased that bystander around a patrol car and stabbed him in the chest. The bystander then required hospitalization.

After an investigation by the New Paltz Police Department, the Ulster County District Attorney's Office, and the New York State Police, Naveo was indicted with three others for gang assault. The DA's Office clarified that "gang assault" does not mean that a "gang" was involved — it just means that two or more people acted together in a criminal transaction.

"I am impressed and grateful that members of our community are increasingly taking positive action to stop obvious acts of violence, sometimes at serious risk to themselves," District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said. "It is a great message to our community and I encourage doing so at the safest possible distance. On behalf of the residents of New Paltz and the buoyant life involving students and visitors from around the world, I express our community gratitude and well-wishes for the good Samaritan for his heroic effort to assist and prevent what might otherwise have been a worse scenario. It is important for students and everyone enjoying a weekend or night out with friends and neighbors to do so safely, without reservation or concern for violence. I am particularly grateful for the professionalism and extraordinary discipline by New Paltz Police Officers and supporting law enforcement in this matter."