New York Daily News

DA to present NYPD beatdown case to grand jury on Tues.

- BY EMMA SEIWELL

A Manhattan grand jury will hear evidence about migrants’ attacks on a group of NYPD officers outside a Times Square migrant shelter, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Saturday.

“It is clear from video and other evidence that some of the most culpable individual­s have not yet been identified or arrested,” Bragg said. “We are working hand in hand with the NYPD to find and hold them accountabl­e for their despicable acts.”

The grand jury is to begin hearing the case Tuesday.

Police say they have a dozen suspects in the assault, which took place about 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 outside the migrant shelter on W. 42nd St. near Seventh Ave.

Four suspects were arrested the night of the attack, Yorman Reveron, 24; Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19; Wilson Juarez, 21, and Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19. A fifth suspect, Jhoan Boada, 22, was apprehende­d Monday night. All five face charges of either assault on a police officer, gang assault or attempted assault and other charges.

Despite the charges being bail-eligible offenses, prosecutor­s declined to immediatel­y ask for bail in their cases, saying they need more time to determine each defendant’s role. The five men were freed at their arraignmen­ts in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Upon their release on bail, four of the suspects used false names to obtain bus tickets from a church-affiliated immigrant support group and have left New York, police sources have said.

On Wednesday, cops nabbed Yohenry Brito, 24, a man they believe was at the center of the beatdown, along with Jandry Barros, 21. The pair were hit with felony assault charges.

Barros was released Thursday night, with prosecutor­s explaining that they were no longer sure he was involved in the incident. The identities of five other suspects have not been released.

The melee began when cops tried to arrest Brito as they encountere­d a disorderly group outside the shelter. Prosecutor­s say Brito resisted arrest by swinging his arms and tensing up in a struggle that brought him and an NYPD lieutenant to the ground.

At arraignmen­t, Brito’s bail was set at $15,000 cash or $50,000 bond. Prosecutor­s sought bail in his case based on prior arrests and his lack of a permanent address. Brito, who records show is from Venezuela, remained held at Rikers Island on Saturday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States