BRONX (VINnews) — An off-duty New York Police Department detective was stabbed 10 times by two men prosecutors described as illegal immigrants after he identified himself repeatedly as a police officer, then pursued the attackers barefoot for two blocks despite his wounds, Bronx authorities said Wednesday.

The details emerged during the arraignment of D’Angelo Caraballo and Sneinder Mejia on attempted murder charges in the Oct. 2 assault on Detective Jose Mercedes. Both men were ordered held without bail.

Bronx Assistant District Attorney Paul Irace told the court that Mejia stabbed Mercedes numerous times while the detective tried to place him under arrest. “He used his training to stop this from happening,” Irace said. The detective identified himself as a police officer more than six times, the prosecutor added.

Mercedes, a 10-year veteran, was unloading items from his car when the pair pulled up on a two-wheeler and demanded his chain, sparking a scuffle. He chased the suspects until blood loss weakened him. More than two weeks later, he still lacked use of his left hand and was recovering from surgery, Irace told Judge Alvin Yearwood. Several NYPD detectives filled the courtroom.

Mercedes later told reporters he nearly died. “I told them in English, I told them in Spanish that I was a police officer. They didn’t care,” he said.

Caraballo and Mejia fled the scene and were later located in Massachusetts. Both are natives of the Dominican Republic who were in the United States illegally, according to authorities. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for information on their status.

Mejia, identified as the accused stabber, faces first- and second-degree attempted murder of a police officer. Caraballo faces a second-degree assault charge involving a police officer.