The NYPD security detail for City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito busted a man who punched his girlfriend outside the speaker’s home in East Harlem Friday morning, cops said.
Two intelligence unit detectives were waiting to escort Mark-Viverito from her home around 8:30 a.m. when they saw a 2013 Nissan Maxima smash into a parked vehicle, sources said.
As they walked up to the car they saw Richard Cotto, 27, in the driver’s seat punch his girlfriend in the left side of her face, sources said.
The detectives asked him to get out of the car, slapped cuffs on him, and hauled him into the 23rd precinct where he was charged with assault and aggravated unlicensed operator because of his suspended license.
“New Yorkers are lucky to have such hardworking, dedicated NYPD detectives on their side,” said Mark-Viverito.
“The detectives on my security detail did not hesitate when they intervened to stop and arrest the perpetrator of a horrific domestic assault in East Harlem and on behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the NYPD for their outstanding work,” the City Council speaker said.