Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the indictment of CARLOS SANTIAGO, 53, for allegedly approaching and menacing a New York City Police Department Officer with a knife in East Harlem in April 2026. SANTIAGO is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Menacing a Police Officer or Peace Officer and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree. [1]

“Carlos Santiago allegedly approached a Police Officer with a large knife after threatening employees at a grocery store,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Members of the NYPD put their lives on the line every day to protect New Yorkers, and we will prosecute those who jeopardize their safety.”

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, on April 6, 2026, at approximately 1:13 AM, SANTIAGO entered City Fresh Market, located at 2212 3rd Avenue. He picked out a glass bottle of Starbucks coffee from the refrigerated section and proceeded to a checkout counter.

While SANTIAGO waited for the customer ahead of him to finish his purchase, he became frustrated and allegedly slammed the glass bottle on the conveyer belt. SANTIAGO refused to leave, and two employees eventually lifted him up by his arms and carried him out of the store.

SANTIAGO then paced on the sidewalk in front of the store. During this time, the store’s security guard turned off the sensor and physically held the automatic door to stop SANTIAGO from coming back inside. After a few minutes of pacing, SANTIAGO left the location, before returning at approximately 1:35 AM allegedly holding a 7 ½ inch knife in his hand. The store security guard again shut off the automatic door, and SANTIAGO repeatedly banged on the glass door with his large knife, while beckoning the employees to come outside.

A store employee called 911, and at 1:38 AM, two police officers from the 25th precinct arrived. SANTIAGO allegedly approached one of the officers at a quick pace holding the knife. This officer removed his firearm and gave the defendant four repeated verbal commands to drop the knife. SANTIAGO ignored these commands and continued to pursue the police officer.

The police officer continued to back away while commanding SANTIAGO to drop the knife, yet he allegedly picked up his pace towards the officer. When SANTIAGO was a few feet away from the officer, he fired one round, which hit SANTIAGO in the lower abdomen. He was then placed under arrest and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Assistant D.A. Elizabeth Murphy (Trial Bureau 70) is handling the prosecution of this case with Assistant D.A. William Eddy (Trial Bureau 70) under the supervision of Assistant D.A.  David Hammer (Chief of Trial Bureau 70) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Michael Collarini of the Force Investigation Division and Officer Jeff Saint-Simon of the 25th Precinct.

 

Defendant Information:

CARLOS SANTIAGO
Bronx, NY

Charged:

• Menacing a Police Officer or Peace Officer, a class D felony, one count
• Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.