OAN’s Abril Elfi
4:25 PM – Tuesday, February 6, 2024
One of the six migrants accused of brutally assaulting two New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers has now been indicted.
On Tuesday, 24-year-old Yohenry Brito, who is accused of being the “most culpable” of the six individuals arrested in the attack on January 27th, was indicted following his initial court appearance last week and is being held in custody on a $15,000 bail.
On the same day that Brito was indicted, he appeared in court for two unrelated theft charges including claims of stealing $275 worth of merchandise from Bergdorf Goodman and $139 worth of apparel from Macy’s in October.
His defense attorney, Mark Jankowitz, stated that Brito is pleading not guilty to all charges.
The decision was made by a grand jury that chose to indict Brito on felony charges related to the Times Square attack, following the presentation of case material by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
A Manhattan judge had previously released the other five asylum seekers who were accused of assault without bond and Bragg also previously downplayed the incident. However, when mainstream media press coverage picked up the story and it went viral on social media platforms, Bragg quickly changed his tune and condemned the men.
“My response is that we have an obligation in the court of law to prosecute the right people with the right charges. That’s what we are doing here. We have more information now then we did on Saturday. I predict we’ll have more in a few days than we have now,” Bragg said.
On Saturday night, two NYPD officers were assaulted while attempting to break up a disorderly crowd outside of a migrant shelter.
The group of men were first told to vacate the front of the Candler Building, located at 220 West 42nd Street, by a police officer and lieutenant. The building has been utilized as a shelter since last March due to overcrowding at homeless shelters.
Reports say that a fight quickly broke out, and a number of men kicked and punched the police officers in the “head and body.” One of the officers even sustained severe cuts to his face and medical personnel assisted in his recovery at the scene.
Four suspects were initially arrested after the incident and they have been identified as Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel 19, Kevin Servat Archoa, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24.
All four were charged with assault after being taken in, but were later released due to the state’s sanctuary laws.
After being released, surfacing reports say that the majority of them attempted to flee the state.
Additionally, the four migrants, Gomez, Arocha, Juarez, and Reveron, are now being accused of giving fake names to a nonprofit organization connected to a church that facilitates transportation for illegal migrants leaving the city.
Nevertheless, on Monday night, three of them were taken into custody at a Greyhound bus station in Phoenix, Arizona.
Brito is scheduled to return to court on March 25th, at which point the charges against him will be revealed. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that Brito’s “distinct tattoo” allowed for his positive identification in the attack footage, which is why the $15,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond was necessary.
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