Seven individuals have been indicted in New York for their alleged involvement in an attack on two New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers in Times Square last month, announced Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
The incident, which occurred on January 27, gained widespread attention after the NYPD posted a video showing a group of individuals kicking and punching two police officers as they attempted to make an arrest in Times Square.
During a press conference, Bragg confirmed that a total of seven individuals are facing charges, with five of them already arrested. The names of the two defendants who have not been apprehended will not be released until their arraignment.
“The assault on our police officers in Times Square outraged and sickened me. We have no tolerance for this despicable behavior,” said Bragg, emphasizing the seriousness with which the investigation is being conducted.
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According to the NYPD, the altercation began when two officers asked a group of men to disperse from a sidewalk in front of a midtown Manhattan shelter. Yohenry Brito then became confrontational, leading to a scuffle with the police and other defendants involved.
Brito fled the scene but was later arrested and is currently being held on Rikers Island. Among the defendants arrested at the scene were Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel and Yorman Reveron, accused of physically assaulting the officers. Kelvin Servita Arocha and Wilson Juarez were also arrested, with Arocha kicking a police radio and Juarez allegedly providing assistance to Brito.
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The five named defendants are facing various charges, including assault and governmental administration offenses. Juarez has been additionally charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Bragg addressed concerns that some of the defendants had been released without bail, clarifying that those taken into custody by federal authorities were not the same individuals involved in the New York investigation.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the attack as “despicable” and cautioned against biases amid media reports suggesting the defendants may be migrants. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney emphasized that individuals committing crimes would be treated as criminals, regardless of their immigration status.
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The incident comes amidst heightened scrutiny over the influx of migrants in major cities like New York, with city officials calling for more resources to address the humanitarian crisis. Border security has emerged as a contentious issue in Congress, with efforts to pass a national security package stalling due to disagreements over border security reform and foreign aid allocations.
As the investigation into the attack continues, authorities remain focused on ensuring justice for the victims and maintaining public safety in the city.
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