NEW YORK CITY CORRECTION OFFICER FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULTING HIS WIFE DURING A HEATED ARGUMENT

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the conviction of a thirty nine year old New York City Correction Officer in connection with a domestic violence incident that ended with the defendant beating his wife on a sidewalk in front of the apartment building where she lived with the couple’s four year old daughter.

Michael Dash, who lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx, was found guilty of one count of Assault in the 3rd degree and one count of Resisting Arrest. Both crimes are Class A misdemeanor offenses punishable by a maximum term of up to one year in jail. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Judith Lieb set sentencing for Wednesday, April 6, 2005 in the Domestic Violence Trial Part 26.

The assault occurred on September 10, 2002. Dash and his wife, Regina Roberson-Dash, maintained separate residences. Dash was visiting his wife’s apartment, also in the Fordham section of the Bronx, when they began arguing about her having a telephone conversation with another man. The argument escalated when Dash grabbed his wife’s hands and dragged her out of the apartment into the street where he choked her and pulled at her hair with such force that some of the hair was ripped from her skull. When police attempted to intervene in the public beating, Dash resisted their attempt to stop the assault and tried to continue attacking his wife. As a result of her injuries, including sprained fingers requiring her to wear a splint, Regina Roberson-Dash, also a NYC Correction Officer, had to be placed temporarily on modified duty.

Defendant Dash, a Correction Officer since March 1, 1990, is also facing Department of Correction administrative proceedings as a result of the domestic violence incident.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Samuel Ramer of the Rackets Bureau.