PARKCHESTER, Bronx (WABC) -- Police arrested a second man on Wednesday, accused of brutally beating an off-duty NYPD officer in the Bronx over the weekend.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the arrest of 23-year-old Wayne Lucas, who was taken into custody in Virginia.
Also on Wednesday, the officer who was attacked was released from the hospital amid great fanfare.
With a black eye, and barely able to see the police officers applauding in front of him, the 27-year-old Chowdury Nafees from the Bronx managed a salute as he was released from Jacobi Hospital, four days after the attack.
"I can tell you this. He's shocked at what happened that night," said PBA President Patrick Hendry. "He's shocked that these individuals - after they knew that he was a New York City Police officer - they didn't leave. They didn't run away. They stomped on his head."
Left with facial fractures, and in lots of pain, the Officer Nafees hobbled into a police van to go home with his parents. He came to this country from Bangladesh five years ago to follow his dream of becoming a cop.
"A few years ago, I had the opportunity to run into him at an event. Before he became a police officer - he was a 911 operator, and he knew at that time he wanted to be answering the calls. And that's what he did," Hendry said.
Just a day before, the first of the two suspects, 23-year-old Taveon Hargrove, was taken into custody in North Chesterfield, Virginia, by members of the US Marshals' Regional Fugitive Task Force. Charges are pending.
Both Hargrove and Lucas are awaiting extradition back to New York City.
The arrests were made after investigators released new surveillance video on Monday to help them track down the two suspects.
The incident unfolded early Saturday morning near St. Peters Avenue in the Parkchester section.
Hargrove and Lucas are accused of knocking the 27-year-old officer to the ground, punching and kicking him, and robbing him at knifepoint.
Authorities have also arrested Hargrove's father for allegedly using the officer's stolen credit card at several bodegas in the Bronx.
The PBA released a statement:
"Thank you to our NYPD detectives and US Marshals for ending this vicious cop-basher's run. But the job is far from over. Even when his criminal partner is caught, we must still stand together to make sure the justice system does its job: protect the cops who protect NYC."