Fifth migrant accused of attacking NYPD cops walks free from court

A fifth migrant accused of attacking NYPD officers in Times Square has left court on bail. The five suspects were arrested and charged with Robbery and Felony Assault following a vicious attack on NYPD officers in Times Square on Saturday. Four of those believed to have been involved were released without bail are now feared to have fled by bus to California using a church-affiliated migrant charity, the New York Post reported.

Yohenry Brito (pictured), 24, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday and is the only one of the suspects being held on bail. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said the $15,000 cash bail or a $50,000 bond was warranted because Brito had been positively identified in video of the attack through a 'distinct tattoo.'

The brutal attack occurred around 8:30 pm when officers attempted to disperse a disorderly group in front of 220 West 42 Street. A fight broke out between a suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police officers. According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers tried to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt. 

The migrants then ran away, making their getaway east on 42nd Street toward Seventh Avenue. At around 10:44 p.m. that night, four of them - Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24 - were arrested. They were all charged with Assault on a Police Officer, Gang Assault, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Disorderly Conduct but were released without monetary bail. 

Now however, Gomez, Arocha, Juarez and Reveron are believed to have given fake names to a church-affiliated nonprofit group that helps migrants get rides out of the city, law enforcement sources told the Post. Jhoan Boada (pictured), 22, was arrested Monday night and charged with Attempted Assault on a Police Officer and Gang Assault. 

Police sources confirmed the men's migrant status to the New York Post. Several addresses of the men provided by the police are homeless and migrant shelters. Three of the men - Izquiel, Arocha and Wilson - were release on their own recognizance, meaning they were freed from custody without bail while their case is pending. Reveron was granted supervised release without bail. He already has two open cases for assault and robbery in Manhattan, having stolen from and assaulted a Nordstrom Rack employee in November.

On Wednesday evening, Boada was also released without bail because he has no criminal history. As he left the courthouse, the 22-year-old raised his middle fingers up at reporters. The attack comes as New York City in particular has struggled under the weight of tens of thousands of migrants arriving at its borders in need of places to stay and other accommodations. In 2023 alone, the city dealt with the arrival of more than 100,000 migrants.

Under New York right-to-shelter laws, the city is required to provide temporary housing for the needy - including asylum seekers - but shelters have filled up at an astronomical rate. In Manhattan, a number of landmark hotels have been turned into makeshift shelters and temporary housing. 

Democratic Governor Hochul appears to have taken a U-turn on her stance about the border crisis and she said that the state should consider deporting the group of migrants who went free on bail. At an event Wednesday, she was asked whether the migrants and offenders like them should face deportation. 'I think that's actually something that should be looked at,' said Hochul. 'I mean, if someone commits a crime against a police officer in the state of New York and they're not here legally, it's definitely worth checking into.' 'These are law enforcement officers who should never under any circumstances be subjected to physical assault,' Hochul added. 'It's wrong on all accounts and I'm looking to judges and prosecutors to do the right thing.'

Even New York City's Democrat Mayor Eric Adams agreed that it's time to look into deportation. 'Those migrants who are here because they want to be part of the American dream, we say 'yes' to that,' Adams said Wednesday. 'But those who are breaking our laws, we need to reexamine the laws that don't allow us to deport them, because they are doing violent acts. We cannot create an atmosphere where you're going to bring violence in our city.' It is understood the DA's office is now investigating additional footage they did not have when the asylum seekers were arraigned and released. Investigators are believed to be using new information and witness accounts to determine specific role of each defendant in the attack. 

The DA's spokesperson said: 'Violence against police officers is never acceptable. It is paramount that we conclusively identified each defendant and specify each participant's role in the incident. Every defendant charged so far is facing felony charges that carry a penalty of up to seven years.'

Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry condemned the attacks and the criminal justice system that allowed at least one of these men to re-offend in a statement. 'Attacks on police officers are becoming an epidemic, and the reason is a revolving door we're seeing in cases like this one,' Hendry said. 'It is impossible for police officers to deal effectively with crime and disorder if the justice system can't or won't protect us while we do that work.'

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