Seven People Indicted in Assault on NYPD Officers Near Times Square
In a shocking incident near Times Square, seven people have been indicted for assaulting two New York City police officers. The assault occurred last month, and authorities are still working to identify three other individuals involved in the incident. The case has garnered attention due to the immigration status of some of the defendants and the controversial decision to release four of them without bail.
The indicted individuals facing charges include Yorman Reveron, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Kelvin Servita Arocha, and Yohenry Brito. They are charged with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of second-degree obstructing governmental administration. Additionally, Brito and another man named Wilson Juarez face charges of tampering with physical evidence. Brito also faces a count of hindering prosecution in the third degree.
The assault took place on January 27 when a group of people allegedly pushed, struggled with, grabbed, or kicked the two officers as they attempted to make an arrest. The officers sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. The incident was captured on surveillance video, body cameras, and other images, which have been instrumental in identifying the suspects.
While six of the seven indicted individuals have been arraigned, only Brito has been held in jail since his arrest. The other five, including Reveron, Gomez-Izquiel, Arocha, Juarez, and an unnamed man, were released without bail. This decision sparked criticism from state and city officials, including New York’s governor and mayor. However, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg defended his office’s decision not to request bail, citing a lack of evidence suggesting that the defendants would flee.
The release of the suspects without bail raised further concerns when it was discovered that four of them subsequently traveled to California. According to a senior law enforcement official, the men took a bus to a town near the Mexican border. Governor Kathy Hochul expressed disagreement with the release, emphasizing the seriousness of the assault and advocating for the suspects to be held in custody.
During a news conference, Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the incident’s severity but also highlighted that the majority of migrants and asylum seekers coming to the city are law-abiding individuals pursuing the American dream.
Details of how the attack unfolded were revealed by authorities. The incident began when a large group of men, including Brito, blocked a street near a shelter, forcing pedestrians to walk around them. When officers responded and directed the crowd to disperse, Brito became confrontational, leading to an attempt to arrest him. The situation escalated when other individuals joined the assault, attacking the officers.
The specific actions of each defendant were outlined by District Attorney Bragg. Gomez-Izquiel allegedly grabbed and kicked an officer, while Reveron is accused of throwing two officers to the ground. Juarez and Arocha did not physically touch any officers, but Arocha kicked an officer’s radio. Juarez watched the assault from a distance and provided a jacket to Brito while taking someone else’s jacket.
Three additional individuals involved in the assault have yet to be identified and arrested. They are seen in images from the scene, with one of them repeatedly kicking an officer’s head and another kicking an officer in the head.
The assault on NYPD officers near Times Square has been widely condemned as a despicable act. It not only targeted individuals in police uniform but also struck at the heart of justice itself. The investigation into this disturbing incident continues as authorities work to bring all those involved to justice.
CNN’s Rob Frehse contributed to this report.
