Robbers hit cops during drug bust

St. Patrick’s Day was unlucky for an alleged local drug dealer — who had about two kilograms of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine and thousands of dollars in cash recovered from his Kingsbridge apartment — and for three other men who tried to rob an undercover federal agent in the course of the bust.

A criminal complaint says on March 17, a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) official received a tip that a drug dealer living at an undisclosed apartment in Kingsbridge needed to have money laundered.

The undercover agent met Boanerge Chevalier and accepted over $100,000 in cash from the man, according to the complaint.

Moments later, three other men who had been watching the transaction coordinated an attack on the agent.

Juan Martinez, 44, of Kingsbridge and Osvaldo Delahoz, 38, of Washington Heights  assaulted the law enforcement official while Cesar Estrella, 36, of Morris Heights waited in a Ford Explorer.

At that point, the agent identified himself, but the suspects continued to beat him and made off with a backpack full of cash, the complaint says.

DEA agents working with the undercover official quickly gave chase to the alleged robbers. In the meantime, authorities uncovered a drug stash of heroin and methamphetamines along with tens of thousands of dollars in additional cash from Mr. Chevalier’s apartment. The suspect is still at large, although the complaint does not specify how he evaded authorities.

Seven law enforcement vehicles pursued the alleged robbers as it drove northbound from West 231st Street up Riverdale Avenue and onto the Henry Hudson Parkway at about 2:30 p.m.

Special Agent Erin Mulvey, a spokeswoman for the DEA, said that speeds increased until the suspects’ car hit a flooded area of the parkway, swerved erratically, rolled over and crashed.

As law enforcement officers closed in to arrest the suspects, all three unsuccessfully attempted to flee. 

Agent Mulvey declined to discuss any steps underway to apprehend Mr. Chevalier.

The criminal complaint says the undercover agent “suffered pain from being hit in the back and neck during the… robbery.”