STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 26-year-old man who was caught doing graffiti in broad daylight blasted an NYPD officer in the face with spray paint and made threats against the lives of cops who were attempting to arrest him in New Springville, authorities allege.
Nicholas Kirsheh of Grasmere Avenue in Grasmere previously was convicted in a road-rage incident where he allegedly vandalized and then purposely crashed into a victim’s car, causing that victim to suffer a severe back injury, according to authorities.
During the alleged assault on Wednesday, the criminal complaint alleges that Kirsheh said to officers, “I will splatter your guts on the ground. I will shoot you. I will shoot you and your partners.”
The encounter began around 8:15 a.m. when eagle-eyed officers spotted Kirsheh allegedly using spray paint to create two lines on the street near Richmond and Nome avenues.
About three minutes later, officers allege they spotted Kirsheh spraying the tag “NGK314″ on the fence of a home in the vicinity of Stephen Loop and Nome Avenue.
The suspect then sprayed red paint in the face of a male officer, causing injuries that included trouble breathing and blurry vision, the complaint alleges.
When officers tried to place Kirsheh under arrest, he allegedly resisted by flailing his arms and tensing his body.
Kirsheh has been charged with assault, making graffiti, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and possession of graffiti instruments.
The suspect has pleaded not guilty and bail has been set at $50,000 bond/$25,000 cash. He is due back in Criminal Court on Sept. 12, according to public records.
An attorney for the defendant did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ROAD RAGE LAST YEAR
Kirsheh pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and was sentenced to nine months in jail in connection with a road-rage incident where the victims were an adult and young child, according to prosecutors.
He was arrested on Nov. 18, six months after the frightening episode on May 18 at about 4:05 p.m. in the vicinity of Travis Avenue and Lewiston Street in New Springville, according to court documents.
Prosecutors alleged that Kirsheh wielded a metal cane as he exited a 1998 Jeep and used the weapon to strike a 2018 Dodge occupied by an adult and child multiple times.
The suspect is quoted in court documents as shouting to the victim, “I’m going to kill you.”
The suspect returned to his Jeep, sat behind the wheel and then allegedly backed his car into the Dodge three times.
Kirsheh fled the scene without providing his identification or insurance information, according to prosecutors.
The front bumper, headlights and passenger-side door were among the parts of the car damaged by the suspect.
The victim suffered substantial pain to his shoulder and back and sought medical treatment for seven herniated disks, according to court documents.
A young child was a passenger in the car, according to authorities.
Kirsheh also pleaded guilty and was convicted of reckless endangerment in the first degree on September 22, and was sentenced to nine months incarceration on that same date, according to court documents.
Police respond to the corner of Nome and Steinway avenues on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)
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