Officer Hammer was released after spending the night at the hospital, while Officer Padilla was transferred to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway (N.J.), where he was treated and then discharged.
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Wounded during a raid to capture suspected NY and New Jersey bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, Linden, New Jersey Officer Peter Hammer was released Tuesday from the hospital to a cheering crowd.
A bullet went through the window of a police vehicle, and the bullet or glass from the window skimmed Hammer’s head, officials said.
Padilla, a 15-year veteran of the force, “thought he was checking on a homeless vagrant”, Linden police spokesman Capt. James Sarnicki tells PEOPLE.
It seemed like a routine call for Angel Padilla: The Linden, New Jersey, police officer was dispatched Monday on a report of a man sleeping in the doorway of a bar.
The suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, is believed to have set off pipe-bomb style devices in New Jersey and New York City, injuring 29 people, on September 17, according to USA Today.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office asked reporters to respect the officers’ privacy as they recover. “We’re here today to walk back into this police department and be able to talk and say regardless of what happened yesterday, we are ok”, he said.
The mayor said Rahami got up and ran down the street, shooting “indiscriminately” at cars and police officers. His bail was set at $5.2 million.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday there is “every reason to believe this was an act of terror”.
Officials also found five bombs late Sunday near the Elizabeth train station, about a mile from Rahami’s home.
“A call was made, one of our police officers went to investigate, and our police officer noticed nearly immediately that this was the suspect that was wanted for the bombings”, Armstead told Smith.
Around the time Rahami was taken into custody, President Barack Obama was in NY on a previously scheduled visit for a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, and said it was “extremely fortunate” nobody was killed in the bombings. He underwent surgery at University Hospital on Monday and stayed there overnight.
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Rahami was taken into custody after being injured in the altercation.
