Device recovered near East Harlem NYPD precinct was operable [Video]

NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — NYPD officials confirmed on Thursday that a device recovered outside an East Harlem stationhouse the day before was “operable,” and the device holder, who also assaulted his cousin with a machete, was charged.

Chontrell Wrenick, 50, was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and assault with intent to cause physical injury.

The NYPD Bomb Squad and Emergency Service Unit responded to the department’s 25th Precinct on East 119th Street at 11:50 a.m. on Wednesday after a car pulled up driven by Wrenick’s cousin. The cousin told two uniformed officers, who were assigned to stationhouse security, that he was the victim of a domestic assault.

According to police, Wrenick had struck the victim with a machete in the back of the head during an argument, “causing a bleeding bruise.”

Wrenrick, who lives in the precinct, was immediately removed into the stationhouse and the machete was secured. The victim then indicated that there was an explosive device in the car, …