Queens Man Cleared of Grenade Attempt Charges After Over Four Decades

A man from Queens who spent more than 40 years incarcerated for throwing a hand grenade at police officers has been formally cleared of those charges, as the device was found to be inert.

Last week, a Supreme Court judge ruled that Michael Bossett, 68, had prior knowledge that the grenade did not contain explosives and never intended to harm the officers, overturning the original attempted murder convictions from 1981.

With this ruling, Bossett now has the opportunity to seek parole, potentially leading to his release after decades in prison.

Historical Context

In December 1980, Bossett, then believed to be involved in gang activity, was found to have thrown an inactive grenade at officers during a raid. Court records indicated he had previously handled such a grenade without detonation, knowing it was inert. At the time, he was shot and wounded by police during the incident.

Despite the grenade charges being dismissed, Bossett remains behind bars for a separate conviction related to a fatal shooting in Suffolk County, with a sentence of 25 years to life.

Broader Implications and Family Impact

Legal experts highlighted that Bossett’s case reflects troubling practices from past policing, where convictions were often based on dubious evidence. His lawyer, Ron Kuby, expressed hope that justice finally prevailed but noted that Bossett still faces a murder charge on Long Island for a 1980 shooting, in which his brother, Darrell Bossett, is serving a life sentence for killing NYPD officer Gabriel Vitale.

The family of the slain officer and advocacy groups criticize the court’s decision, arguing that Bossett’s attempted-murder charges were unjust and that he should have been released years ago. Vitale’s daughter called the ruling a moral failure, emphasizing the loss her family endured.

Ongoing Legal Battles

Police and victim advocacy groups remain determined to keep Bossett incarcerated for the murder linked to Vitale’s death. PBA President Patrick Hendry vowed that the fight to ensure Bossett remains in custody is not over: “We will continue advocating for the justice and safety of our officers.”

Legal representatives for Bossett contend he has already paid for his crimes and would have been paroled much earlier if not for wrongful convictions.