Officer Battles Brain Injury

Christina Cole

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Office Richard Lomax, 29, sustained severe head injuries when three thugs attacked him and a fellow officer after a minor car crash at 3:45 am on Saturday.

Lomax and Robert DeFazio, both graduated from the academy only two weeks ago, were in Lomax's Ford Explorer when it skidded on the ice crashing into the back of a Nissan Maxima.

Lomax and DeFazio got out of the vehicle, identified themselves as cops and proceeded to call 911. The three assailants got out of the car and began throwing punches, said cops.

DeFazio, received only minor injuries. But Lomax, was knocked backwards and hit his head on the cement curb. Lomax was operated on at St. Vincents hospital for swelling to his brain. The family is hoping for a full recovery.

Lamont Lafoucade, 33, and Durvell Williams, 21, both of Brooklyn, and Thelma López, 28, of The Bronx, were charged with gang-related assault and criminal possession of a weapon after a switchblade was found in the car. The gang charge could add five years to a conviction.