May 1, 2018 -- The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the tragic incident on Chestnut Avenue in Mamaroneck Saturday, April 28, 2018, that resulted in the death of a two-year-old child. In addition, two Village of Mamaroneck police officers were injured by the child’s mother who was also wounded.

Cynthia Arce (DOB 07/10/89), the child’s mother, was placed under arrest today at the Westchester County Medical Center where she is being treated for a gunshot wound sustained during her attack on the police officers. She is charged with two counts of Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Police Officer, class A felonies. Arce was arraigned before County Court Judge Anne Minihan and remanded to the custody of the Westchester County Department of Corrections. The Legal Aid Society has been assigned to represent Arce and she is scheduled to appear in the Village of Mamaroneck Court Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.

The felony complaint alleges Arce attacked the two Village of Mamaroneck police officers who responded to a 911 call at the house where Arce lived with her mother and her toddler daughter. Arce repeatedly slashed and stabbed at the officers with two large sharpened instruments. Police Officer Osvaldo Ramos sustained a large laceration to his left hand as he tried to protect himself and Police Officer Joseph Gaglione, who had fallen to the floor, sustained a wound to his foot as he was kicking at the defendant to block her attack. No other charges have been filed at this time.

The circumstances that gave rise to this tragedy, including the events which took place Friday, April 27, 2018, are the subject of the ongoing investigation. To the extent that it has been reported that in a conversation held Friday evening between the attorney for the child’s father and an Assistant District Attorney wherein the ADA characterized the custody issue as a civil matter, we stand behind her statement.

Our deepest condolences go out to this family suffering such a terrible loss. The Westchester County Medical Examiner is performing an autopsy on the deceased child and results are expected to take some time. The District Attorney’s Office has no further comment at this time.

 

 In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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