Two NYPD officers were assaulted by individuals identified as illegal immigrants near Times Square over the weekend, with video footage capturing the altercation as the officers grappled with the suspects.
According to The New York Post, the officers instructed a group of illegal immigrants to disperse from the street around 8:30 p.m. last Saturday. Shortly afterward, a scuffle ensued, during which the illegal immigrants collectively attacked the officers. NYPD footage depicts the officers attempting to detain one suspect while others assault them.
The Post reported that four individuals, identified as Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24, were taken into custody. They were subsequently released without bail after facing assault charges. Additionally, a fifth suspect was arrested Monday night and charged with attempted assault of a police officer.
The officers sustained minor injuries, including facial cuts and bruises, and received treatment at the scene. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced it is examining the footage and investigating the incident.
Reveron, one of the released illegal immigrants, is reportedly involved in two other ongoing cases related to assault and robbery. He allegedly assaulted an employee at Nordstrom Rack during a theft attempt and is accused of punching a loss prevention officer during a separate incident at Macy’s last month.
This incident coincides with New York City’s struggle to manage the influx of tens of thousands of illegal immigrants over the past two years, a situation exacerbated by what Mayor Eric Adams characterizes as President Joe Biden’s lenient border policies. Adams acknowledged reports of a “robbery pattern” involving some illegal immigrants, emphasizing that crime is not limited to this demographic but acknowledging their involvement in certain criminal activities.