‘Cop shooter’ free
Ex-NFLer helped him bail him out
An ex-con accused of shooting an NYPD detective during a Staten Island drug bust was sprung from jail Wednesday after former Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant helped secure bail, sources told The Post.
Grant was among those who kicked in the $500,000 cash needed to secure a $5 million bond to release Nelson Pizarro, putting up a large portion of the money, the sources said. The move outraged cops. “The fact that an individual who shot an NYPD detective is walking the streets of our city is a slap in the face to every dedicated member of law enforcement,” said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives Endowment Association. “What’s more disgraceful is that former NFL player Ryan Grant funded the bail of an attempted cop-killer, drug dealer who pushes his deadly poison in our communities.”
DiGiacomo added, “It begs the question, would Mr. Grant spring this criminal if his family member was the victim or just when it’s a hero detective protecting the public?”
A police veteran said, “A convicted drug dealer with an extensive criminal history who willfully shot a police officer was just released on bail. What else do you need to know about the criminal justice system today? There is simply no regard for the safety of the public.”
The relationship between Grant, 40, and Pizarro wasn’t clear.
Grant, originally from Rockland County, played at Notre Dame and signed with the Giants, but never played for them after an off-season injury. He was with the Packers for six seasons from 2007 to 2012 and was on the team that won the 2011 Super Bowl.
He is a co-owner of the former AP Cafe, a Bushwick coffee shop.
Pizarro, 40, who had seven prior arrests in New York, was charged in January with shooting Detective Dominick Libretti in the leg during a drug bust at a New Springville home. Pizarro was not the target of the raid, but allegedly started shooting at officers from a bedroom with a 9mm Beretta handgun.
Libretti was hailed as a hero as he used a ballistic shield to protect himself and his team from the gunfire. Pizarro was shot in the leg by police returning fire. He was charged with attempted murder, among other counts.
Judge Lisa Grey sent Pizarro to jail without bail. His lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, appealed. In April, the Appellate Division set bail at $2.5 million cash and $5 million bond.
Lazzaro said Saturday that family and friends put up the 10% cash outlay to secure the bond, and he didn’t know if Grant was among them. He said Pizarro was now in home confinement. Neither Grant nor Libretti’s lawyer returned requests for comment.
Additional reporting by Dean Balsamini