New York prosecutors drop cop assault charges against migrant suspect who flipped off media

Manhattan prosecutors have cleared a migrant accused of joining a mob attack on police officers near Times Square in January — the same man who gave the media the finger when he left his arraignment hearing.

Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Friday that Jhoan Boada, 22, a Venezuelan, was “exonerated as a participant in this assault” following the office’s investigation.

He was released on bail after his initial hearing, where he greeted reporters outside the courthouse with two raised middle fingers and a smirk.

Prosecutors said Mr. Boada was confused with another Venezuelan migrant, Marcelino Estee, whom police described as wearing a black and white jacket and pink shoes the night of the assault.

Mr. Estee, who arrived in the country about eight months ago, was arraigned Friday. He is being held on a $15,000 bail.

Authorities arrested Mr. Bhoada days after the Jan. 27 assault outside of a migrant shelter in Midtown.

Police said they were dispersing a disorderly crowd blocking a sidewalk when one of the men started arguing with officers.

As the two officers tried to handcuff the man, the rest of the crowd swarmed the police and began punching and kicking them.

Most of the suspects were charged and released following the attack. One suspect, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, was arrested on robbery charges less than three weeks later.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement took two of the other suspects, Wilson Juarez and Kelvin Servita Arocha, into custody.

Prosecutors said five people charged in the incident are in custody.

The brazen assault alarmed politicians in both parties. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, called for the suspects’ deportation soon after the attack took place.