Told EMT bust cops: ‘I’ll give you $1M’
JOSE GONZALEZ, accused of killing a city EMT, winked at courtroom cameras and pleaded not guilty Wednesday — as new court records revealed his unhinged, drug-addled rants to cops.
“I didn’t do anything. I’m going to get a lawsuit. I’m going to get a Bentley,” Gonzalez allegedly blathered to arresting officers shortly after he hijacked an FDNY ambulance and fatally mowed down Bronx EMT Yadira Arroyo on March 16.
In rambling statements over the next few hours, Gonzalez claimed he was high on PCP, marijuana and the schizophrenia drug Seroquel when he crushed the beloved mother of five with her own ambulance, according to the court filing unsealed Wednesday.
“I’m going home in my Maserati. You cops are cool I will give you a Maserati and a million dollars,” he claimed once inside the 43rd Precinct stationhouse, the records show.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “I hopped on the ambulance to save people from the fire.”
Gonzalez later said he was “not a murderer” but admitted he climbed into Arroyo’s ambulance and drove away while her partner was yelling at him.
“I deserve $75 million. I use PCP and alcohol. I had two blunts of PCP eight hours ago,” he allegedly said around 1:10 a.m. on March 17.
The excerpts were released as Gonzalez appeared in Bronx Criminal Court wearing handcuffs, a bright orange jumpsuit and a creepy smirk on his face.
“Not guilty,” he spat out when asked for his plea on a first-degree murder charge.
The aggressive attitude came after he previously refused to attend grand jury proceedings or leave his cell for a court appearance last month.
Several EMTs in the crowd scoffed upon hearing his words.
Defense lawyer Alice Fontier failed to convince the judge to bar cameras from the courtroom. She and Gonzalez have been the targets of death threats, Fontier said.
Arroyo, 44, was killed while working an overtime shift and responding to a 911 call with her EMT partner Monique Williams, authorities said.
It was a passerby who let her know Gonzalez, 25, was joyriding on her bumper, and the crazed alleged gang member spun around and jumped into her driver’s seat once she exited the vehicle to assess the situation.
Gonzalez ran her over twice, dragging her into an intersection and killing her, prosecutors said.
Dozens of Arroyo’s colleagues attended the hearing Wednesday.
“We will continue to come to every court date,” Israel Miranda, president of the Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Fire Inspectors FDNY Local 2507, said. “We will continue to have hundreds of people out here looking for justice. This man needs to be convicted for his crime.”
One fellow EMT waved a sign suggesting Arroyo — known as Yari — helped her alleged killer multiple times in the past.
“Jose, Yari helped you and brought you to the hospital 3 times!!” the sign read. “WHY DID YOU MURDER HER.”
Miranda said he believed Arroyo had transported Gonzalez for treatment in the past.
Arroyo’s partner was still “too sensitive” to speak publicly Wednesday, close friend and FDNY EMS Lt. Vanessa Ocasio said.
“This is a tragic loss for her that she witnessed, and mentally, emotionally, psychologically, she’s just dealing with grieving everyday,” Ocasio said.
The Daily News launched a fund to help Arroyo’s family with an initial gift of $10,000. Generous readers boosted the fund to more than $125,000. A TIN MAN shedding a single tear and the FDNY emblem adorn a commemorative coin unveiled Wednesday in honor of EMT Yadira Arroyo.
A group of veteran EMS workers from across the country came up with the touching tribute (photo), a nod to Arroyo’s Station 26, known as the “Tin House” in order to raise money for their fellow first responder’s five sons.
The group sold more than 300 coins and raised roughly $5,000 in a matter of hours.