Firefighter Allegedly Attacked Police Officer in Forest Hills: DA's Office

A city firefighter has been arrested after he allegedly attacked and attempted to rob a city police officer in Forest Hills on Friday, a Queens district attorney spokeswoman said.

Angel Valerio, 30, who works for the FDNY, was arraigned July 5 on attempted robbery, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He was released after posting $1,000 bail, a spokeswoman for Queens DA Richard Brown said.

The victim, who works for the 112th Precinct but was off duty at the time of the incident, told police that he was walking by a group of men near Forest Hills' TGI Fridays when one of them elbowed him in the chin.

When he identified himself as a police officer, one of the men allegedly punched him in the back of the head, causing a contusion, the DA spokeswoman said.

When the officer took his cell phone out of his pocket, one of the men allegedly slapped it out of his hand.

The officer withdrew his service weapon, followed the man who punched him into a parking lot and attempted to subdue him.

Two of the men in the group allegedly began punching him and attempted to take his weapon, according to the criminal complaint.

The men the fled in a vehicle. Steven Quinones, of Ridgewood, was among those arrested, the DA spokeswoman said.