5 suspects in Times Square NYPD attack arraigned: 'Hold them fully accountable'
5 suspects in Times Square NYPD attack behind bars
Five suspects charged in the Times Square attack against two NYPD officers are behind bars tonight after facing a judge, as we learn that two of the suspects are tied to a violent Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua. FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt has the story.
NEW YORK CITY - Five men charged in last month's attack on two NYPD officers in Times Square faced a judge Friday.
Wilson Juarez, Kelvin Servita Arocha, Yohenry Brito, Yorman Reveron and Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel all appeared in court and were arraigned on the indictment. All five remain in law enforcement custody, authorities said.
- Juarez: $1 bail was set by the judge at defense counsel’s request. He will remain in DOC custody until the resolution of the case.
- Gomez-Izquiel: $50,000 cash.
- Reveron: $100,000 cash.
- Arocha: $15,000 cash
- Brito: Bail was reset at $15,000.
Gomez-Izquiel, 19, is also accused of shoplifting at a Macy's inside Queens Center Mall. He allegedly punched a Macy's employee that tried to stop him.
According to federal officials, Juarez and Arocha are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
ICE officials told FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmit that Juarez should not have even been in the U.S., as a judge in El Paso, Texas ordered him deported a year ago.
"The assault on our police officers in Times Square was despicable and we do not tolerate this type of attack," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. "The seven defendants indicted have now appeared in court, and because of our thorough investigation we can present our case and hold them fully accountable for their actions.
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Police initially arrested four people, and then a fifth person a few days later, but outrage grew after all were released without bail.
"Our criminal justice system did its job. These individuals are all behind bars where they belong," said PBA President Patrick Hendry. "They should've never been released. The DA in the case should've requested bail. The judge should've kept them behind bars."
Meanwhile, an eighth person was arrested in the attack and was picked up at the Randall's Island migrant shelter. Ulises Bohorquez faced a judge Thursday and was held on $100,000 cash bail. Prosecutors said he kicked one officer's foot and grabbed the other one's leg.
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Suspect in Times Square NYPD attack arrested for shoplifting in Macy's
Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel was charged for allegedly shoplifting from the Macy's location at Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst, the NYPD said.
"Our investigation into the incident with the NYPD remains ongoing and we are working with our law enforcement partners to apprehend the remaining individuals involved," Bragg said.
Yohenry Brito was the only suspect who was sent to Rikers Island on $15,000 bail after the beating in January. A source told FOX 5 NY's Linda Schmidt that he was released this week after an activist pastor from a Brooklyn church posted his bail. However, he is now back in Rikers while authorities investigate the source of that money.
Events: What happened in Times Square?
The two NYPD officers were attacked by as many as 14 people back on Jan. 27 after police said they were trying to break up a group of men accused of acting disorderly near Times Square.
Police initially arrested four people, and then a fifth person a few days later, but outrage grew after all were released without bail.
However, last week, a grand jury indicted seven people connected to the melee.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg faced fierce criticism over the fact that several suspects wanted in the attack were released on bail and for the time it took to bring down the indictments.
"Based on our thorough investigation, I stand here today confident that we have identified the roles of every person that broke the law and participated in this heinous attack," Bragg said.