A woman who deliberately hit a New York City police officer with her car, following a barrage of anti-police comments, has been sentenced to prison. This decision, however, has been met with criticism from the police union, which argues that the penalty is insufficient.

On Wednesday, Manhattan Supreme Court handed down the sentence to 25-year-old Sahara Dula, who will also face three years of post-release supervision. Dula had previously admitted guilt in June to second-degree assault charges.

The incident, which occurred on January 17, 2024, involved Dula driving her black Lexus the wrong way on Park Avenue near East 71st Street. At the time, police officers were present in the area conducting an investigation into a robbery at a nearby luxury store, leading to partial road closures, as outlined in court documents.

Footage from the scene, referenced in these documents, captures an officer approaching Dula’s vehicle in an attempt to redirect her back to the correct lane. However, rather than complying, Dula accelerated, hitting the officer directly. The impact caused the officer to roll over the car’s hood before he fell to the ground, sustaining a fractured leg, according to prosecutors.

Following the incident, Sahara Dula openly admitted to authorities, “I did it on purpose,” further fueling the controversy surrounding the case.

Dula was immediately taken into custody, police said. While under arrest, she went on an anti-police tirade and admitted she had hit the officer on purpose, according to the court documents.

“I told the cop I wanted to go straight, and he wouldn’t move, so I hit him. I did it on purpose,” Dula told investigators, according to the records.

“F— these cops! He wouldn’t move!” she shouted shortly after the incident, the filings state.

Authorities said Dula drove northbound in the southbound lanes of Park Avenue for roughly 10 blocks while under the influence of marijuana. Officers recovered rolling papers and a container of marijuana in her car’s cupholder, court records show.

Sahara Dula, 24, told investigators she struck the officer “on purpose.” (X/@MrAndyNgo)

Dula, a criminal justice graduate, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is receiving ongoing mental-health treatment, according to the New York Post.

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry criticized the outcome, telling Fox News Digital that the justice system needs to send a stronger message.

“The sentence is not nearly enough,” Hendry said. “This individual tried to run down a New York City police officer. She could have killed him. We’re glad she is going behind bars instead of walking free, but there must be zero leniency for attacks on police officers.”

Her attorney, Patricia Wright, told Fox News Digital that Dula has accepted responsibility for her actions.

“Ms. Dula has taken responsibility for her actions, pleaded guilty and has been sentenced according to the law,” Wright said. “We sincerely hope that the officer involved in the assault on Ms. Dula will be held to a high standard of professionalism in the future and will not have the opportunity to engage in such behavior again.”

Since her arrest, Wright said Dula has fully complied with all pretrial release conditions and has been a “model citizen.” 

Dula was initially indicted on multiple charges, including attempted assault, attempted aggravated assault on a police officer, assault, drug-impaired driving and reckless driving, according to the indictment.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg previously condemned the attack in a February 2024 news release announcing the indictment, calling it a “dangerous assault” on law enforcement.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg previously condemned the attack as a “dangerous assault” on law enforcement. (Barry Williams for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

“This defendant not only endangered the lives of countless people traveling on Park Avenue, but she deliberately sought to harm an NYPD officer,” Bragg said. “We have no tolerance for this type of attack and will continue to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. I hope the injured officer makes a full recovery and thank him for his service.”

While the second-degree assault charge carried a maximum sentence of seven years, Dula’s plea deal reduced her prison term to two years, followed by three years of supervised release, Wright said. 

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.