Imagine a man accused of assaulting a woman and then turning on a police officer, only to walk free without posting a dime. That’s the jaw-dropping reality in Staten Island, where David Caccavale, 37, faces serious charges yet was released on supervised release over the strong objections of prosecutors. It’s a case that’s got law enforcement shaking their heads and citizens questioning the state of justice.
Here’s the rundown: Caccavale is charged with attacking a woman in a domestic dispute, then allegedly assaulting an officer while in custody, yet a judge decided he didn’t need to be held on bail, New York Post reported.
The trouble started on Aug. 29 inside a Rye Avenue home, where Caccavale is accused of assaulting a woman in a heated domestic clash. Court documents lay out charges of assault and harassment stemming from this disturbing incident. It’s the kind of situation that makes you wonder how safe our neighborhoods really are when such behavior slips through the cracks.
But the story didn’t end there. Just one day later, while being held at the NYPD 123rd Precinct station house, Caccavale allegedly took his aggression to another level. This wasn’t just a bad temper—it was a direct challenge to law and order.
Shortly before 2 a.m., as he was being prepped for court arraignment, Caccavale reportedly lunged at an officer with enough force to cause chaos. According to the complaint, the officer collided with furniture, suffering real physical harm in the scuffle. It’s a stark reminder of the risks our police face every day, even in a station house.
An NYPD spokesperson confirmed the officer was thrown to the floor during this brazen attack. Court records specify a shoulder injury, a painful price for simply doing their job. When did protecting the public become a contact sport?
The charges piled up quickly after that early morning melee. Caccavale now faces second- and third-degree assault, along with harassment and obstruction of governmental administration counts, per court filings. It’s a laundry list of wrongdoing that paints a troubling picture.
Yet, despite the severity of these dual assaults, Staten Island prosecutors hit a wall in court. They pushed hard for $20,000 cash bail or a $60,000 bond to keep Caccavale off the streets. You’d think that’d be a no-brainer, right?
Wrong. Judge Matthew Blum opted instead to release Caccavale without bail, placing him on supervised release. It’s the kind of decision that leaves you wondering if the scales of justice are even balanced anymore.
NYPD PBA President Patrick Hendry didn’t mince words on this one. “We need our entire justice system to send a clear and consistent message that assaults on police officers will not be tolerated,” he said. And who could argue with that when officers are getting knocked down in their own precinct?
“That message needs to start with keeping the attackers off the streets,” Hendry added. But apparently, that message got lost in translation somewhere between the courtroom and common sense. When a suspect can allegedly assault both a civilian and an officer and still walk free, what signal does that send?
Caccavale is set to return to court on Oct. 14, but until then, he’s out under supervision. That’s little comfort to a community rattled by domestic violence and attacks on law enforcement. How does this instill confidence in a system meant to protect us?
Let’s be clear: everyone deserves due process, and no one is calling for a rush to judgment. But when the facts stack up—domestic assault followed by an attack on an officer—there’s a reasonable expectation that consequences should hit harder than a supervised stroll. This isn’t about vengeance; it’s about accountability.
Our police put their lives on the line daily, often without thanks, and now they’re dodging body slams in their own stations. Meanwhile, progressive policies seem to prioritize leniency over the safety of victims and officers alike. Isn’t it time we rethink a system that lets alleged repeat offenders walk so easily?
This case isn’t just about one man or one judge—it’s about a broader trend that’s got many folks worried. When the safety of both civilians and cops takes a backseat to soft-on-crime approaches, trust in the system erodes. We can’t let that happen.
Staten Island deserves better, and so do the men and women in blue who serve it. As this case moves forward, eyes will be on the Oct. 14 court date to see if justice finally steps up to the plate. Until then, let’s hope supervised release doesn’t mean unsupervised danger.
