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New York Post
Migrant suspect in shocking Times Square cop beatdown indicted by NYC grand jury — as other brutes ‘roaming free’
By Jack Morphet, Steve Janoski,
2024-02-06
A man with a distinctive neck tattoo that was part of the migrant mob attack on two cops in Times Square was indicted Tuesday — the same day he pleaded not guilty to a pair of unrelated low-level charges.
A grand jury handed down an indictment for Yohenry Brito, 24, in the shocking caught-on-video attack, but the charges remained under seal as of Tuesday, a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said.
The indictment came hours after Brito had been led into New York Criminal Court in shackles to answer two misdemeanor charges related to shoplifting.
His neck tattoo, which peaked out from the top of his khaki shirt during the minutes-long hearing, was what prosecutors had focused on last week when they asked a judge to hold Brito on bail.
On Tuesday, Brito kept his head down as he walked in and out of the courtroom.
Outside, attorney Mark Jankowitz told The Post that his client denies the misdemeanor charges.
“He’s procedurally entering a plea of not guilty, and he’s pleading not guilty to all the charges at this time,” Jankowitz said.
Brito — who has been held on Rikers Island since his arrest — will again appear in court to answer the misdemeanor charges on April 3.
Yohenry Brito, 24, who appeared Tuesday in New York Criminal Court to answer to a pair of misdemeanor charges, was indicted the same day for attacking a cop Jan. 28. Steven Hirsch Brito, along with several other migrants, allegedly attacked the cops Jan. 28 after they told his group to move along. DCPI Brito’s indictment was under seal Tuesday; it’s not clear what charges he faces. Steven Hirsch
He will also appear March 25 in New York Supreme Court to be arraigned on the charges in his sealed indictment, the DA’s office said.
On Tuesday, PBA President Patrick Hendry said the indictment was “just one small step towards justice for our injured brothers.”
“It might never have happened without the outcry from New Yorkers who are fed up with a justice system that keeps failing to protect both police officers and the public,” Hendry said in a statement.
“Too many of the participants in this vicious attack are still roaming free,” he continued. “We are once again urging all New Yorkers: Keep speaking up until they are all behind bars where they belong.”
Brito was the only suspect tied to the melee so far that was held on bail.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Marisol Martinez Alons set the amount at $15,000 cash or $50,000 bond last week after prosecutors said they’d identified Brito’s tattoo.
Kelvin Servita Arocha is one of those accused of attacking the officers. Wilson Juarez was also charged for the attack, then released.
But the other suspects — Darwin Andres Gomez, 19, Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, Wilson Juarez, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24 — were cut loose after their arraignments.
Authorities think they skipped town shortly afterward by giving fake names to a church-affiliated nonprofit group that helps migrants get rides out of the city, sources previously told The Post.
Here’s the latest NYP coverage on the cop beatings by migrants in Times Square:
The court could put out warrants for the four if they don’t get back to New York in time for their March 4 hearing.
The men were part of a mob of migrants who allegedly went after an NYPD officer and lieutenant at about 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 on West 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.
Footage of the confrontation shows the two cops telling migrants to move along — just before all hell broke loose on the New York City street.
Jhoan Boada is a suspect in the assault. Yorman Reveron is also a suspect. Darwin Andres Gomez is also a suspect.
A scuffle broke out between the cops and one of the men just before the pack seized on the officers, raining kicks down on their heads and bodies before taking off down 42nd Street toward Seventh Avenue, the video showed.
Bragg’s office has defended not asking for monetary bail by saying it was still reviewing footage of the beating to determine each suspect’s level of involvement in the fight.
Another man, Carlos Durante, was arrested Monday outside Manhattan Criminal Court in connection with the assaults, Chief of Detective Joseph Kenny told The Post.
But he’s only been charged with grand larceny and other crimes because authorities don’t see him actively attacking the cops in the footage, Kenny said.
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