Undercover Helps Nab 2
Foil Murder Plot Against Cop

By REUVEN BLAU

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly May 9 announced the arrest of a parolee who tried to hire a hit man to kill a cop who apprehended him last summer after a fight in front of the officer's home in Queens.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow GUNNING FOR ARRESTING OFFICER: Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly display the gun and assault rifle found in the home of a man accused of putting a contract on the life of a cop who arrested him last summer.

According to authorities, Andrew Spencer, 23, told an undercover Detective posing as an assassin that he wanted to pay him to kill the officer, whom the NYPD asked not be identified due to safety concerns.

Supplied Weapons

Mr. Spencer, who was in Rikers at the time, gave the undercover cop a map of the officer's house and arranged to have an accomplice supply the posing officer with an assault rifle, a pistol and a bulletproof vest.

"They had the means and the intent to carry out their plan to kill the Police Officer," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown at the press conference at 1 Police Plaza.

Mr. Spencer and his alleged accomplice, Kieye Kye, offered to pay the undercover a Lexus, a Ford Explorer, and $1,000 cash. Officers searched Mr. Kye's Queens home on May 1 and recovered a loaded SKS assault rifle and 9-mm. Smith and Wesson handgun, which had both been stolen.

"This is heavy-duty stuff," said Commissioner Kelly, who later held the rifle in front of reporters.

The dispute last summer occurred as the officer's young niece and a neighbor were playing in front of his home in Jamaica. The officer heard a fight break out nearby and went to check things out.

Talked Down Gunman

According to Mr. Brown, when the cop attempted to break up the fight, Mr. Spencer allegedly punched him in the face and pointed a loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun at him.

The officer then pulled his own gun and identified himself as a cop. He ordered Mr. Spencer to drop his weapon. Mr. Spencer complied but Mr. Brown said he then offered to bribe the officer because he was afraid of a long prison term. He was on parole for raping a 15-year-old girl in 2002.

Both Mr. Spencer and Mr. Kye have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and various other charges. They face up to 25 years in prison.

"An assassination against a police officer has more significance than other murder conspiracies," Commissioner Kelly told reporters. "Why? Because a police officer represents all of us in the enforcement of the law; a police officer is the embodiment of society's protection."