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New York Post
Migrant accused of beating 2 NYPD cops arrested again — then set free without bail
By Amanda Woods, Joe Marino, Steve Janoski,
4 hours ago
A migrant accused in the beating of two cops inside a Manhattan shelter was busted again for snatching a woman’s cellphone and credit card — then was promptly set free without bail, The Post has learned.
Alexander Ayala, 24, was charged with identity theft and possession of stolen property after the Aug. 12 heist, which happened at about 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of 11th Avenue and West 49th Street, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities say Ayala grabbed the unidentified victim’s card and phone, then took off on a bike — then tried to use the woman’s Amazon credit card later that day at Gourmet 45, a deli on Third Avenue, and a T-Mobile store on Lexington Avenue, the complaint said.
Alexander Ayala has been busted for allegedly stealing a woman’s cell phone and credit card on Manhattan’s West Side. Obtained by the NY Post
Prosecutors hit him with two counts of third-degree identity theft and one count of criminal possession of stolen property for his alleged crimes.
But because the charges aren’t bail-eligible, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office asked the court to let Ayala go on supervised release.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Simiyon Haniff let Ayala walk on his own recognizance.
Back in May, prosecutors asked the courts to hold Ayala on $20,000 cash, $20,000 insurance bond and $40,000 partially-secured surety bond after a near-riot at the Roosevelt Hotel shelter where several migrants allegedly ganged up on two cops.
Ayala had been charged with two counts of assault and one count of obstruction for his actions that day, which allegedly included trying to snatch one of the cop’s hats as a souvenir.
Ayala’s last known address was the Roosevelt Hotel, which has been converted into a migrant shelter. Robert Miller Migrants line up outside the storied hotel. Stephen Yang
But he and the other defendants were instead let go on supervised release — despite Ayala’s previous criminal record, which includes a December domestic violence charge.
The fight at the Roosevelt began at about 2:15 p.m. on May 19, when police were called to the shelter on a report of a dispute between two groups of migrants.
The asylum seekers quickly surrounded them and attacked, sources told The Post at the time.
Migrants outside the Roosevelt Hotel where Ayala’s last known address was. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post
One of the officers was bitten in his left arm and bruised on his left leg during the scrum, and the other cop suffered head injuries and wounds on his right elbow and wrist.
Both officers ended up at Mount Sinai West hospital, and the NYPD arrested four migrants afterward.
Two of them — Kennedy Jesus Mavarez Lugo and Nicol Cedeno — were charged with assaulting a cop, while a third, Yhonneiber Milano, was charged with robbery and obstruction.
Ayala was initially only charged with attempted robbery for trying to grab the hat. But the charges appear to have been upgraded to assault since then, according to court records.
Ayala — whose last known address was the Roosevelt — is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 12 to answer for both the cop assault and the stolen phone and credit card.
For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/
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