2 in custody after 2 NYPD officers shot in the Bronx

BRONX, N.Y. -- Police have two people -- believed to be the gunman and a robbery accomplice -- in custody in connection with the shooting of two police officers in the Fordham section of the Bronx Monday night.

The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. at East 184th Street and Tiebout Avenue as the officers, who were part of a five-member plain clothes anti-crime team, were searching for suspects wanted in an armed robbery.

Near the corner of East 184th Street, authorities say the officers saw two possible suspects, identified as 24-year-old Jason Polanco and 28-year-old Joshua Kemp. As they approached them, Polanco reportedly entered a Chinese restaurant on Tiebout Avenue and ordered a Snapple while Kemp remained outside. The officers walked up to Kemp, and that's when they say Polanco opened fire on the officers, one of whom returned fire.

Police said Kemp was struck by the bullet fired through the window of the Chinese restaurant, which went through his right bicep and hit one of the officers.

The two suspects then fled on foot toward Marion Avenue, with Polanco allegedly firing two more shots at the officers before carjacking a white Camaro that later crashed and was abandoned near East 188th Street and Park Avenue. A black revolver was also recovered nearby.

Officers Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellerano were wounded in the exchange.

Polanco, of the Bronx, was taken into custody early Tuesday afternoon. He was being closely tracked by detectives, who had determined his daily routine after his name was provided by multiple tipsters who saw his picture and called CrimeStoppers.

Police say he was caught on security camera at the Chinese restaurant just before the officers were shot.

Kemp is believed to have shown up with a gunshot wound at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center at 11 p.m. Monday. He has been in police custody at the hospital since then.

Police said Kemp initially told them he had been shot on Dyckman Street in Inwood, but his story quickly fell apart when police identified the guy that drove him to the hospital. Then, he reportedly gave up the entire story.

Kemp was treated before being moved to the Bronx Borough Detective Squad.

A third man, 26-year-old Elio Rivera, said to be a friend of the suspected gunman, was also taken into custody. But police say he had nothing to do with the robbery and was just walking with Polanco, who has three prior arrests for weapons possession and, according to his Instagram account, hateful things to say about police.

Kemp has 10 priors and is currently on parole for robbery.

The pair may have been involved in prior robberies.

Police say Polanco is facing charges in connection to the shooting -- including five counts of attempted murder of a police officer -- as well as in the robbery and carjacking. Kemp is charged only in the robbery.

Pellerano, 38, was shot in the chest and arm, while Dossi, 30, was struck in the arm and lower back. The officers were rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where both are now stable and expected to survive.

The two officers live minutes apart in Rockland County and carpool daily to the Bronx.

Dossi, an 8-year veteran of the force, is an Army reservist who has done two tours in Iraq and was scheduled to go to North Africa next week. He has an 8-year-old daughter.

Eyewitness News spoke to Dossi's father, Joe Dossi, who visited his son at the hospital. He said his Andrew, who underwent surgery, was more concerned with the other officer who was shot and whether the suspects has been caught.

Pellerano has been on the force for nine years and has a son and a daughter, both of whom tweeted. His son wrote, "1 bullet won't slow you down," and his daughter wrote, "tomorrows gonna be so hard, good luck pops."

Bratton said Officer Pellerano is expected to be released Wednesday morning.

Mayor Bill de Blasio released the following statement:

"Last night a team of our officers displayed extraordinary bravery, going above and beyond the call to protect their fellow New Yorkers. We thank these officers for their commitment to serving our city, including answering the call after their shift had ended. Two of our officers - Officers Andrew Dossi and Aliro Pellerano - suffered wounds in the performance of their duties, and the hearts and prayers of a grateful city go out to those two fine men and their loved ones. The entire City of New York stands with these officers and their families as they recover from these injuries.

"This incident was yet another reminder of how profoundly important the work of our police officers is, as well as the seriousness of the dangers they face every day in the line of duty. We depend on them to keep this whole city safe, and they do it with great skill and professionalism. I also commend the investigators for their smart, thorough detective work as they pieced together the facts of the case, and everyday New Yorkers for providing more than two dozen tips to the Police Department - all of which helped bring suspects into custody earlier today."