Man Who Attacked LI Deputy Charged W/ Attempted Murder: Officials

NEW YORK, NY — A Manhattan man who was charged with attempted murder in connection with a stabbing attack in New York City last week was also arrested in Central Islip in March after he was accused of attacking a deputy of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, officials said.

Quandale Linton, 26, stabbed a man with a knife and chased him in the middle of Madison Avenue in East Harlem on April 8, the New York Police Department said. Linton dropped the knife as officers arrived, and he was taken into custody, News 12 reported.

Linton was charged with attempted murder, assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and menacing.

The victim, who is from Brooklyn, was brought to Harlem Hospital in stable condition, police said.

Linton was previously arrested March 10 in the parking lot of 1st District Court in Central Islip, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office said. Linton was circling the parking lot in his car and approached a group of deputies outside the courthouse, the sheriff said. A deputy approached the car and asked Linton if he needed assistance, the sheriff said. Linton opened his car door into the deputy and then attacked him, putting him in a chokehold, the sheriff said. Linton was taken into custody when other deputies arrived, the sheriff said.

Linton was charged with second-degree felony assault with intent to cause physical injury to an officer, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest. Linton was released from court the next day, the sheriff said.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. slammed the New York state bail reform guidelines, which were passed in April 2019 and enacted Jan. 1, 2020.

"Linton would still be held in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility were it not for the bail reform legislation enacted by the NYS Legislature last year," Toulon Jr. wrote in a statement. "This legislation did not make our communities safer, as evidenced by the recent actions by Mr. Linton.

"Judges used to have some discretion on whether or not an individual should be held on bail," Toulon Jr. said. "This suspect was given a court date and told to come back for court. Instead he got a knife and attacked another person."