Man arrested in pellet gun shooting of member of Mayor de Blasio's security team near Gracie Mansion

ByKala Rama WABC logo
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Man arrested in pellet gun shooting of member of Mayor de Blasio's security team
Kemberly Richardson has the story

UPPER EAST SIDE (WABC) -- One man is under arrest after a member of Mayor Bill de Blasio's security team was struck by a pellet gun near Gracie Mansion on Sunday night.

19-year-old Michael Verbitsky is charged with assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a forged instrument, criminal possession of a weapon 4, and criminal mischief.

He left court in Lower Manhattan Monday night after being arraigned and posting $10,000 bail.

The female officer was getting out of an unmarked police cruiser when she felt something hit her. It was later determined she was struck by a pellet to the lower back. She was taken to the hospital with some bruising, and is expected to be okay.

Mayor de Blasio was not home at the time, and the NYPD says there is no threat to his security.

No other injuries were reported.

SWAT team officers swarmed the area outside Gracie Mansion along East End Avenue after the incident.

The mayor and First Lady are out of town bringing their son Dante to college.

A 19-year-old woman was also taken into custody after the incident and questioned, but has not been charged.

In addition to Sunday night's pellet gun shooting, Verbitsky has also been charged in two other incidents from other pellet gun shootings in his building in which windows were shot at.

Police released a photo of the pellet gun Monday night.