Fresh Indictments Unveiled in Times Square Clash Between Police and Migrants, Says Manhattan Prosecutor
The prosecutor in Manhattan has recently announced six more indictments against individuals believed to be involved in a violent altercation with police officers in Times Square.
However, it has been stated that investigators are still in the process of identifying several suspects and determining their specific involvement in the chaotic incident.
Alvin Bragg, the district attorney, has been under increasing scrutiny and facing political criticism after a video surfaced. The footage shows a group of individuals, believed to be migrants, assaulting police officers on a sidewalk and forcibly removing them from a man they were attempting to apprehend.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Bragg announced that his office had obtained grand jury indictments for a group of seven individuals involved in the “heinous attack,” with two suspects still at large.
Simultaneously, he recognized that a few of the individuals initially accused of assaulting police in the Jan. 27 incident had only played a minor part in the chaotic situation.
“It is crucial that we identify and hold accountable the individuals responsible for these criminal acts,” Bragg emphasized. “Failing to hold the guilty accountable is a grave concern, but it is equally important to ensure that innocent individuals are not wrongly implicated in the criminal justice system.”
It appears that Wilson Juarez, a 21-year-old individual who was previously charged with assaulting police officers, was observed watching the brawl from a distance without actively participating.
According to prosecutors, he has been charged with tampering with physical evidence. This is because he allegedly exchanged his jacket with a man who fled from the police after the confrontation.
According to Bragg, it is alleged that Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, did not physically touch either of the officers during the beating. However, he is said to have kicked a police radio, which would make him an “accessory” to the assault.
No Grand Jury Indictment for Third Figure in Times Square Assault Yet
According to a spokesperson from the District Attorney’s office, the third person who gained attention for his actions after his arraignment has not been indicted by a grand jury yet. Prosecutors are still investigating to determine if he was involved in the assault.
According to authorities, the police are currently seeking to interview at least five more individuals as part of their ongoing investigation. This inquiry involved a thorough examination of body-camera recordings.
A man named Yohenry Brito, 24, has been indicted on multiple charges, including two counts of assault. He is currently being held at Rikers Island. As per NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, the incident unfolded when a duo of police officers instructed a group of individuals to vacate a sidewalk outside a shelter in midtown Manhattan.
According to Kenny, a scuffle ensued after Brito became confrontational with the officers and they tried to arrest him. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has connected the incident to what he characterized Thursday as a surge in criminal activity influenced by the city’s migrant population.
He has claimed that only a “small minority” of new arrivals were involved in illegal activities, but he has been accused of exploiting the Times Square incident for political advantage.
There is currently no data available from the police or city officials to support the claim of a “crime wave.” Since a surge of migrant arrivals began 18 months ago, most categories of crime have seen a decrease.
