Haverstraw man pleads not guilty to attempted aggravated murder and other charges
Prosecutors say the defendant drove over a police officer, led authorities on a high-speed chase and crashed head-on into a police vehicle during an incident in Rockland County last month.
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A 24-year-old Haverstraw man entered a not guilty plea Friday morning in Rockland County Court to numerous charges stemming from an incident that authorities say injured police officers and led to a high-speed chase in part of Rockland County.
Isaac E. Catedral pleaded not guilty to charges contained in an indictment that includes attempted aggravated murder, burglary in the first degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree (four counts), reckless endangerment in the first degree, resisting arrest, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree (two counts), and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (two counts).
According to prosecutors, on Oct. 23, 2026, Catedral entered a home in Haverstraw while armed with a knife after repeatedly striking the front door and screaming at the occupants inside.
Authorities allege that Catedral then fled the residence in a car and drove over a Haverstraw police officer at the intersection of Sharp Street and Prospect Street.
Prosecutors say he left the injured officer, leading police on a high-speed pursuit through Rockland County. Sometimes reaching 80 miles per hour.
Prosecutors say the chase ended when he drove northbound on Route 9W in a lane of oncoming traffic and crashed head-on with a police car with two Town of Haverstraw police officers inside.
Authorities also allege he struck the vehicles of nearby motorists.
Viewer video obtained by News 12 showed the police response as Catedral was taken into custody.
Rockland County Court was filled with law enforcement officers during Friday's arraignment.
"We're a big family with the Haverstraw Police Department. And anytime one of our own is injured in the line of duty, we're going to make sure we come out," said Haverstraw Police Chief John Gould outside of the courthouse after the proceeding.
Gould said one officer has returned to work, while two other officers remain out due to injuries sustained during the incident.
He said the case highlights the risks officers face while performing their duties. "We put our lives on the line every single day to protect our community. We're proud to do it. We're happy to do it. And sometimes things like this happen. We're not going to stop doing what we do every single day to make sure that everybody is safe," Gould said.
Judge David M. Ascher also issued stay-away orders directing Catedral to have no contact with witnesses.
Catedral was remanded to jail and is scheduled to return to court next month.
