Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announces new charges in Times Square assault
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the indictment of seven people he says were involved in a group assault of two NYPD officers outside a migrant shelter in Times Square.
The attack was caught on video, and surveillance footage released by the NYPD has since gone viral. The incident stoked already fierce political debates about bail reform and New York City’s migrant crisis. GothamistOne man, 24-year-old Yohenry Brito, was indicted earlier this week and remains in custody. The others were released shortly after the Jan. 27 incident.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, who appeared alongside Bragg and Mayor Eric Adams at the press conference, said the incident started after police asked a group of migrants to clear the sidewalk to make room for pedestrians. Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Kelvin Servita Arocha and Yorman Reveron were also indicted on charges of second-degree assault and obstructing governmental administration. Wilson Juarez faces a felony count of tampering with evidence and two counts of hindering a prosecution.
Bragg said his office has learned much more about what happened as it reviewed police body camera footage and interviewed witnesses in tandem with police. Because not all the men were apprehended at the scene, he said, investigators have been working to ensure they charged people who were actually involved.