4 people detained in Arizona in connection to Times Square attack on NYPD officers, ICE says
TIMES SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Four people believed to be involved in the attack of two NYPD officers in Times Square last month were detained in Phoenix, Arizona, according to ICE.
Officials say the four individuals who "were believed to be fleeing the state of New York" for their suspected involvement in the attack were apprehended while traveling to the Phoenix Greyhound Bus Station from El Paso, Texas.
They were then transferred to the custody of ICE officials.
The NYPD is working with ICE to determine whether they are the same four men who allegedly skipped town on a bus headed toward California after being charged in the attack. If the grand jury indicts them, they will be expected to appear in court.
It comes as one of the suspects arrested in the attack was indicted by a grand jury.
Yohenry Brito, the man who allegedly set off the melee by resisting arrest, appeared in court on Tuesday where he was indicted for his role in the assault.
The charges against him will be unsealed when he is arraigned on the indictment at a later date.
Before the indictment, Brito appeared before the judge for about 10 minutes and a new court date was set for March 25 on his two prior misdemeanor cases.
Brito's defense attorney commented outside court, saying only that "he pleaded not guilty."
Brito is being held on Rikers Island on $15,000 bail.
The Police Benevolent Association president said in the indictment is a step toward justice.
"This is just one small step towards justice for our injured brothers," PBA President Patrick Hendry said. "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. Too many of the participants in this vicious attack are still roaming free. We are once again urging all New Yorkers: keep speaking up until they are all behind bars where they belong."
The grand jury hearing comes as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg continues to defend his office's decision to release five of the six suspects without bail.
In light of the attack, some local lawmakers gathered Monday to call for New York City to once again start cooperating with federal immigration officials. Mayor Eric Adams said the law in place that limits the cooperation between the two doesn't impact the work ICE does.
"ICE can execute warrants. ICE can have a role here. No one is stopping ICE from doing their job. They have a job to do when you deal with dangerous people such as that. I cannot use city resources based on existing law. I think that's a question that should be presented to the council," Adams said.
A council spokesperson says the laws limiting cooperation with ICE exist, "to ensure immigrant communities aren't deterred from seeking help or reporting crime to city officials out of fear of deportation."
Meanwhile, a statement from New York Immigration Coalition says they trust Bragg and are calling on NYPD to "release the full bodycam footage of the incident to reduce rampant speculation that is fueling anti-immigrant rhetoric."
Authorities continue to search for several others involved in the attack against the two officers. They say 14 people were involved.
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