Massachusetts Man Charged After Knife Assault on Federal Officer During Fugitive Arrest

A Dorchester, Massachusetts man is facing a federal charge carrying up to two decades in prison after authorities say he assaulted a federal officer with a knife while attempting to evade arrest during a fugitive operation in New York.

Cedric E. Cundiff, 67, appeared in federal court following an initial appearance on a charge of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. The charge stems from an incident on January 29, when members of a federal fugitive task force attempted to execute an arrest warrant at a residence in Syracuse, New York.

According to the criminal complaint, task force members assigned to the United States Marshals Service arrived at the residence to locate Cundiff, who was wanted in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, on charges that include robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Investigators located Cundiff inside the residence, at which point he retreated to a bedroom after observing officers at the door.

When a deputy marshal attempted to open the bedroom door, authorities allege that Cundiff used a knife to slash the officer’s hand. The attack caused two lacerations and a fracture, escalating the arrest into a violent federal offense. Officers secured the scene and took Cundiff into custody.

Federal officials characterized the incident as a volatile arrest scenario that underscores the risks routinely faced by fugitive task force personnel, who are often required to locate and apprehend individuals with active warrants and documented histories of violent conduct. Assaults involving edged weapons are treated with particular severity under federal law due to the high likelihood of serious injury or death in close-quarters encounters.

Cundiff appeared in federal court in Syracuse before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz of the Northern District of New York and was ordered detained pending further proceedings. Prosecutors stated that the charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing, if a conviction occurs, would be determined by a judge based on the applicable statute, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and the specific facts of the case.

The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the New York State Police. Federal authorities emphasized that assaults on officers engaged in lawful duties are prosecuted aggressively, particularly when the alleged conduct involves weapons and results in injury.

Officials involved in the case reiterated that fugitive apprehension operations frequently involve unpredictable and high-risk conditions, and that violence against officers performing judicially authorized arrests poses a direct threat not only to law enforcement personnel but also to surrounding communities.

The charge against Cundiff remains an allegation. As with all federal criminal proceedings, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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