article urlIllegal with 65 arrests released after pummeling NYC nurse, "Soft-on-crime laws...aren't helping us."
Tue Mar 12 2024
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Quick Hit:

An illegal migrant with a staggering 65 arrests to his name is once again on the loose after assaulting nurses in New York City. The suspect, Edward Johnson, 57, was released two days after his latest attack, sparking outrage and calls for a review of the city's 'soft on crime' policies.

Key Details:

  • Edward Johnson, an illegal migrant living in New York City, has been arrested 65 times on charges including firearm offences.
  • Despite his extensive criminal record, Johnson has only spent eight months in jail and was released two days after his latest assault on a nurse.
  • Healthcare workers and city residents are calling for a change in laws that they believe are too lenient on criminals.

Diving Deeper:

Edward Johnson, originally from the Caribbean, has been living in New York City for the past decade. Over the years, he has been arrested dozens of times on charges ranging from gun possession to assault. His most recent attack was on nurse Chelsea Mora, 32, at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx. Mora was left with bleeding in her eye and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after Johnson assaulted her while she was taking his blood pressure.

Despite his extensive criminal record, Johnson has only spent a total of eight months in jail. His latest release, just two days after his assault on Mora, has sparked outrage among healthcare workers and city residents. Many are calling for a change in laws that they believe are too lenient on criminals, particularly those who are in the country illegally.

"It was pretty disheartening to find out that he was illegally here in this country and that he's been given so many chances," Mora told Fox. "I think these soft-on-crime laws that are being implemented aren't helping us, like citizens of New York, and aren't helping healthcare staff in dealing with these types of criminals."

New York Mayor Eric Adams has acknowledged the need for reform of the city's sanctuary status, which currently forbids officials from asking about a person's immigration status or revealing it to federal authorities. "We need to modify the sanctuary city law that if you commit a felony or violent act we should be able to turn you over to ICE and have you deported," he said at a community meeting last month.

As the city grapples with this issue, a warrant has been issued for Johnson's arrest and prosecutors are preparing to put a case before a grand jury. Meanwhile, healthcare workers like Mora continue to face the risk of violence on the job, often from patients they are trying to help.

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