- Body camera footage released, revealing attack on NYPD officers in Times Square; 11 people involved identified, 7 indicted, 2 still not found, 5 suspects unaccounted for.
- Incident occurred when officers asked asylum seekers to clear sidewalk; led to assault on cops after detaining Yohenry Brito.
- Manhattan DA condemns assault, promises rigorous investigation; Brito, Gomez-Izquiel, Reveron, Arocha charged with assault, Juarez charged with evidence tampering; Mayor calls for deportation if found guilty.
Additional Coverage:
- Police body camera video released in Times Square assault on officers as 7 suspects are indicted (cbsnews.com)
Body camera footage has been released showing the attack on two members of the NYPD in Times Square last month. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has identified 11 people involved, with seven of them being indicted. Two of the indicted individuals have not been found yet, and five suspects remain unaccounted for.
The footage reveals that the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. on January 27, when police officers were telling asylum seekers to stop blocking the sidewalk on West 42nd Street. The officers eventually detained 24-year-old Yohenry Brito against a wall after he refused to comply. This led to a group assault on the two cops.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg condemned the assault, stating that it sickened and outraged him. He emphasized that attacks on police officers would not be tolerated and assured that the roles of every person involved in the attack had been identified through a meticulous review.
Yoheny Brito, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Yorman Reveron, and Kelvin Servita Arocha are among those charged with second-degree assault. Wilson Juarez is facing charges of evidence tampering. Brito is currently being held on bail as he allegedly refused to comply with the officers’ commands to clear the street.
Mayor Eric Adams described the attack as despicable and emphasized the importance of apprehending the perpetrators. He suggested that if found guilty, the federal government should deport them from the city. The NYPD has indicated that some of the indicted individuals may have gang ties to Venezuela based on neck tattoos and other information.
While two additional people have been indicted, they have not been accounted for. The police union president expressed that these indictments would not mean anything unless the individuals show up in court. Police sources previously stated that some of those indicted boarded a bus for Mexico, but the DA has denied having any evidence of that.
The DA is working with the NYPD to locate the five people who are still unaccounted for. If convicted, the arrested individuals could face up to seven years in prison. Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.