NEW YORK, NY – A duo of New York City police officers were reportedly assaulted by a group of migrants near Times Square over the weekend. The alleged assailants were later released without bail following their arrest.
The incident, which was captured on surveillance footage, took place around 8:30 p.m. Saturday on West 42nd Street in Manhattan. The video shows an NYPD officer and lieutenant engaging with the migrants, instructing them to move along. A confrontation ensues as the officers attempt to subdue an individual on the ground.
The suspects are then captured on camera kicking the officers before fleeing the scene. They were apprehended shortly after. The suspects were identified as Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24.
All suspects were charged with assault and subsequently released without bail. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the investigation into the incident is still underway.
The officers involved in the incident, who have not been named, sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. One officer suffered facial lacerations, while the other sustained body bruises.
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry voiced his concerns over the incident, stating that attacks on police officers are becoming increasingly common due to a “revolving door” justice system.
Reveron, one of the suspects, has two pending cases in Manhattan for assault and robbery. He is accused of attacking a loss prevention officer at a Macy’s department store during a robbery and allegedly assaulted a Nordstrom Rack employee in November.
This incident comes as the city is dealing with a surge of migrants who were transported from the Texas-Mexico border. Reports suggest that nearly 100 migrants have been suspected of pickpocketing by the NYPD.