Two migrants accused of assaulting NYPD officers were released without bail, sparking outrage among law enforcement over what they see as a dangerous precedent in soft-on-crime policies.
Two migrants accused of attacking New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers were released without bail after Manhattan prosecutors agreed to let them go, according to a local report.
Brian Joseph, 24, and Jose Gonzalez, 19, were arrested on Sunday after they allegedly assaulted two police officers on Eighth Avenue around 9:50 p.m., as reported by the New York Post.
The incident began when an NYPD officer on traffic patrol approached Gonzalez in front of the Row NYC Hotel after allegedly witnessing him riding recklessly on a moped. When the officer asked for identification, Gonzalez, who reportedly did not have ID, resisted, leading to a confrontation.
During the altercation, Joseph, Gonzalez, and a third suspect allegedly bit one officer on the arm and wrist, and pushed a moped onto another officer, causing injuries including a contusion and a scratched cornea.
While Joseph and Gonzalez were apprehended, the third suspect fled and has not yet been identified.
Both Joseph and Gonzalez were charged with assault and assault on a police officer but were released the following Monday.
Court transcripts obtained by the New York Post reveal that prosecutors informed the judge they would consent to the defendants’ release on their own recognizance. The judge agreed, allowing both suspects to remain free until their next court appearances in September.
Al Baker, a spokesman for the state’s Office of Court Administration, declined to comment on the specifics of the case, stating only that New York judges have discretion in making bail decisions based on an individualized assessment of a defendant’s flight risk.
NYPD officers, speaking anonymously, expressed anger and frustration over the decision to release the suspects.
“What kind of message is this sending to the public?” one Manhattan officer asked. “They are basically saying anyone in a blue uniform is a human piñata.”
Another officer criticized the soft-on-crime policies, warning that they are “allowing open war on cops.”
Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Patrick Hendry condemned the decision, stating that it showed "zero common sense and zero concern for the safety of cops on the streets."
"We’ve seen dozens of significant assaults on police officers in Manhattan this year, and there’s a clear pattern in those cases — prosecutors and judges are only doing their job when they’re in the spotlight," Hendry told the Post. "We will keep turning out in court to show the entire justice system that their actions are getting cops hurt and putting all New Yorkers at risk."