What you should know
- The prosecutor’s office stated that while they “strongly condemn attacks on police officers and prosecute those responsible,” it is debated “whether the arrested person was even involved. At this time there is insufficient evidence that he is one of the people who committed this terrible act.”
- Multiple sources familiar with the matter said they believe four of those initially arrested and released after court boarded a bus under aliases and headed toward the California-Mexico border.
- The lack of consequences for the suspects has prompted a police reaction.
NEW YORK — Another suspect was arrested in connection with an attack on two New York City Police officers in Times Square over the weekend, bringing the total to seven, and sources say some have since Suspects have used aliases to board buses to the West Coast after being released on bail.
Yohenry Brito was arraigned Thursday on charges of second-degree assault and obstruction for his alleged role in Saturday night’s fight, according to the criminal complaint. Another person was also arrested, but the Manhattan district attorney’s office decided to “defer prosecution” against the individual.
The prosecutor’s office stated that while they “strongly condemn attacks on police officers and prosecute those responsible,” it is debated “whether the arrested person was even involved. At this time there is insufficient evidence that he is one of the people who committed this terrible act.”
However, it does not rule out the possibility that the individual could be charged at a later date.
The attorney’s information was not immediately clear to Brito, who was not released after the judge set bail at $15,000, a different outcome than the other alleged attackers, who were released without bail. His next court appearance was scheduled for February 6.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter said they believe four of those initially arrested and released after court boarded a bus under aliases and headed toward the California-Mexico border.
An official with the New York Office of Judicial Administration said that they “were not aware of the whereabouts of the defendants, but they are required to return to Court on the scheduled dates”; His next court date in New York was scheduled for March 4.
Federal officials said that in many cases, New York officials do not alert them when an undocumented defendant is being released from court or jail. A spokesman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office said bail was not requested in part because they were still determining which defendants committed which acts during the assault.
The lack of consequences for the suspects has prompted a police reaction.
“Why aren’t they in jail right now? They brutally attacked a police officer and a lieutenant. Our criminal justice system is upside down,” said Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry.
Authorities say the fight caught on camera broke out as police tried to break up a group of immigrants in front of a shelter on 42nd Street, steps from the New Amsterdam Theater. Police officials said Thursday that at least 13 people are believed to have been involved in the attack on officers.
Governor Kathy Hochul had harsh words for the arrested migrants.
“Get them all, send them back,” the Democrat said Thursday at an unrelated event debuting new subway cars in Manhattan. “You don’t touch our police officers, you don’t touch anyone.”
Multiple law enforcement sources said it all started when a couple of people approached officers and told them there was a disorderly group, causing trouble.
The police went to check it out and the situation escalated quickly. The video obtained by our sister network NBC New York shows the moments before the beating, when a police officer and a lieutenant spoke with the group. They put their hands on a person and suddenly, the police are surrounded. They stumble down 42nd Street, where the officers fall to the ground, before being kicked, stomped on, and punched in the face and head.
A lieutenant suffered a cut to the face. The other agent has wounds on the side of his body.
“I’m shocked by this. The city has had enough,” said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell. “The shame of this is that they are trying to keep this city safe and they are attacked by eight cowards who kick them in the face and throw cheap blows at them.”
The five previously arrested are accused of assault or attempted assault on a police officer and group assault. Several are also accused of obstructing government administration.
Several of the suspects are immigrants, Chell said, while police were familiar with some from past incidents.
“Some of them live in the immigrant shelter, they seem to be immigrants, obviously. I don’t know when they got here. Some of them already have long police records,” said Chell, who angrily noted that the suspects who had been accused were already back. on the street. “These individuals who were arrested [o] They will be arrested, they should be charged, they should be sitting at Rikers waiting for their day in front of the judge. “Plain and simple.”
Mayor Eric Adams, immersed in the immigration crisis throughout his administration, roundly condemned the behavior of the suspects.
“The men and women of the NYPD risk their lives every day, working tirelessly to keep us and our streets safe,” read a Thursday statement from the mayor’s office. “Violence, of any kind, and not least against our officers, is unacceptable and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have not commented on whether they will attempt to detain the defendants in this case. Camille Joseph Varlack, Mayor Adams’ chief of staff, said New York’s sanctuary city status does not prevent police from coordinating with ICE.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Violence in migrant shelters has been a growing problem lately, prompting demands for new quality of life initiatives in certain neighborhoods. The city’s largest shelter is located on Randall’s Island, where a deadly fight broke out earlier this month. Three people were indicted Tuesday in that case.
2024-02-02 02:06:32
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