A boozed-up career criminal with at least two stints in state prison is in custody after taking a drunken shot at cops in Queens and stumbling when he tried to outrun New York’s Finest, the NYPD said.
Joel Kelly, 60 — who has twice done time for assault — is now facing charges of attempted murder of a police officer and gun possession after the early Saturday morning arrest in Far Rockaway, authorities said.
Police responded to a 911 call of shots fired at Ocean Bay-Bayside Houses shortly before 12:30 a.m., cops said.
The cops then spotted Kelly, who fit the description of the shooter from witnesses, in front of 444 Beach 54th St. — with the suspect allegedly taking a shot at the approaching officers.
Kelly then tried to make a run for it – but didn’t get far, police said.
The cops, who did not return fire, put the cuffs on Kelly, who was taken to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital because he was heavily intoxicated, the department said.
Two police officers were also treated at a local hospital for ringing in their ears.
According to state records, Kelly served time in state prison from 1984 to 1986 on a second-degree assault conviction and was on parole until 1987 after his release.
Just one year after it expired, he was back upstate from 1988 to 1990 on an attempted assault conviction, records show.