NEW YORK, NY – Two more suspects have been arrested in connection to the assault of an NYPD lieutenant and officer outside a Manhattan migrant shelter, according to police on Thursday.
Yohenry Brito, 24, and Jandry Barros, 21, both migrants, were apprehended on Wednesday night for robbery and felony assault.
The attack occurred on Saturday night when the officers tried to disperse a disorderly group outside the Candler Building on W. 42nd St. near Seventh Ave., as shown in surveillance video released by the NYPD. When the two cops attempted to arrest a man in a yellow jacket, they were suddenly attacked by multiple individuals from all sides.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell expressed his outrage at the suspects being released, stating that “They should be sitting on Rikers, being indicted this week and taken off our streets. You want to know why our cops are getting assaulted? There’s no consequences. We must change this. End of story.”
Brito and Barros were awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday. Brito has previous arrests for petty larceny and robbery, while Barros has a prior Queens arrest for petty larceny.
The first five suspects arrested are all migrants who live at other shelters. The police are still seeking five more individuals believed to be involved in the assault.
Police actually believe 12 men were involved in the assault and are still looking for five of them. The other suspects arrested face charges of either assault on a police officer, gang assault, or attempted assault, in addition to other charges.
The four suspects apprehended on Saturday night were released without bail after their arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. Following his Wednesday arraignment, Boada was also released without bail after his attorney adamantly denied the man was involved in the brawl.
As he left the courthouse, Boada flashed twin middle fingers at reporters and photographers. “I don’t understand,” he said in Spanish. “I didn’t do nothing.”
Chell emphasized the need for consequences for these assaults, expressing his frustration with the suspects being released. He stated that “You want to know why our cops are getting assaulted? There’s no consequences. We must change this. End of story.”
The NYPD has identified the need for changes in the justice system to ensure consequences for assaulting officers and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.