Jamiesfeast – In an afternoon court hearing in New York City, Yohenry Brito, who was arrested last week for assaulting two NYPD officers in Times Square, stood before a judge.
According to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, it was determined that Brito, a 24-year-old migrant, was the one who instigated the attack. He is identified as the individual wearing a yellow jacket in the surveillance footage, allegedly engaging in a physical altercation with the officers during their attempt to apprehend him on January 27th.
He has been indicted by a grand jury on charges that are currently undisclosed, and his arraignment is scheduled for March.
Defense attorney Mark Jankowitz stated that he has no comment at this time and mentioned that his client pleads not guilty.
The attorney clarified that his client’s plea of not guilty is simply a procedural action and should not be interpreted as a denial of the assault allegation against the officer.
Of the 13 individuals believed to be involved, Brito is the sole suspect currently being held at Rikers Island. Last week, the district attorney opted not to request bail for the five other individuals charged in the case, and according to police sources, some of them may have fled to the Mexican border by bus. Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her dismay on Tuesday morning.
In a recent interview on the MSNBC program “Morning Joe,” Hochul expressed her strong disapproval of the abhorrent act and disagreed with the notion that the perpetrators should have been released. She pointed out that some of them were able to leave on a bus due to the absence of bail. Hochul emphasized her efforts to reform the bail laws in New York state, stating that the crimes committed should have been eligible for bail.
According to Bragg, he decided against seeking bail due to the uncertainty surrounding the specific involvement of each suspect in the attack. He also noted that there is a narrow timeframe to establish this legally if someone is being detained.
Some New York state Republicans are skeptical of this explanation. On Tuesday, they penned a letter to the governor expressing their concerns and urging him to take action. They stated, “The safety of New Yorkers is undeniably compromised. We implore you to utilize your authority under the state constitution and the Public Officers Law to remove District Attorney Alvin Bragg from his position.”
Bragg’s office promptly issued the following statement in response:
The District Attorney and New York City police commissioner emphasized this weekend, along with Mayor Adams echoing yesterday, that we are actively collaborating with the NYPD. Our primary focus is on making positive identifications, constructing a strong case, and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. It is worth noting that since DA Bragg assumed office, there has been a significant decrease in shootings and murders by 38% and 23% respectively in Manhattan. Furthermore, gun prosecutions have increased by 20%. We are open to working with the signatories on various public safety initiatives, including the enhancement of hate and sex crimes laws and investing in mental health initiatives. These efforts have the potential to prevent crime and save lives.
Immigrant advocacy groups are urging the NYPD to make public the body camera footage of the assault. Make the Road New York, a prominent group, stated that all New Yorkers, regardless of their zip code, race, or immigration status, deserve fair treatment. They emphasized the need to avoid using one incident to unfairly portray and target immigrant communities, as well as undermine the effective policies that have contributed to the safety of all New Yorkers.
The NYPD has not indicated whether it plans to release the footage captured by body cameras.
Brito, on the other hand, is currently detained at Rikers Island due to a $15,000 cash bail. Additionally, he has two other ongoing cases, one of which involves a shoplifting charge.
The remaining suspects who were arrested are set to appear in court on February 20th.