Usanewsonline.com desk: Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz  announced that Andres Tabares, 40, has beensentenced to 12 years in prison on assault charges for striking a police officer with a crowbar causing severe
physical injuries. Police officers were pursuing two defendants who were attempting to burglarize a homeon April 16, 2019, in Kew Gardens, Queens when the assault took place. Co-defendant Marlon Morales Moreira, 32, was also charged in connection with the incident.

District Attorney Katz said, “This defendant caused severe and permanent damage to a police officer responding to an attempted burglary call. Such brazen attacks will not stand in Queens County. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to the crime in August, has now been held accountable and sentenced by the Court.”
Tabares, of 89th Street, Howard Beach, Queens pleaded guilty in August to assault in the first degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Daniel Lewis who imposed today’s determinate sentence of 12 years in prison to be followed by 5 years post-release supervision. Defendant Morales Moreira, of 75th Street, of Woodhaven, Queens, has also been charged and is awaiting his next court date on October 12, 2022.According to the charges, at approximately 9:40 p.m., on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, a 911 call wasmade from a man stating that he heard someone at his back door trying to break into his home. Police officersresponded to the 59th Avenue address and spotted defendant Tabares along with defendant Morales Moreira.Both defendants immediately fled the scene in different directions and police officers gave chase. PoliceOfficer Anthony Spinella pursued defendant Tabares on foot. As Officer Spinella caught up to Tabares hegrabbed his shirt at which time defendant Tabares swung his arm around and hit Officer Spinella in the facewith the crowbar he was holding.
District Attorney Katz said, as a result of the defendant’s actions the officer sustained serious physical injury to his left eye leaving him unable to perform his duties as a police officer. At the time of the defendant’s arrest, he stated in sum and substance that “it was a mistake” and that he was just “trying to getaway.” Defendant Morales Moreira was apprehended without incident.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Reale, of the District Attorney’s Career Criminal Major Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Shawn Clark, Bureau Chiefand Michael Whitney, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of the Major Crimes Division Daniel A. Saunders.