In a brazen display of defiance, 22-year-old Jhoan Boada, who is in the United States without legal permission, gestured offensively at the media as he walked free from police custody. Boada was apprehended for his involvement in a violent confrontation that targeted two NYPD officers in Times Square, directly adjacent to a shelter for migrants.
Unperturbed by the gravity of his actions, which include accusations of assaulting a police officer and engaging in a gang assault, Boada smirked and showed both middle fingers to the journalists and photographers assembled outside the Midtown South Precinct located in Manhattan. His attire consisted of a black Los Angeles Lakers T-shirt paired with khaki pants, and his left forearm bore a noticeable tattoo.
The incident, capturing widespread attention, featured Boada and a group of other undocumented immigrants in an altercation with an NYPD officer and lieutenant. This took place near the renowned New Amsterdam theater, attracting tourists and now, significant public scrutiny. The confrontation led to charges against seven undocumented immigrants.
Among those charged alongside Boada were Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, Kelvin Servat Arocha, Juarez Wilson, and Yorman Reveron, facing a range of offenses from assaulting a police officer to disorderly conduct. Additionally, Yohenry Brito and Jandry Barros were arrested and charged with robbery and felony assault related to the theft of an officer’s cellphone during the melee.
The clash began when the officers asked the migrants to disperse, escalating into a physical altercation. Disturbing video footage of the event shows one attacker kicking an officer in the head while another assaults the second officer from behind.
Following the incident, the involved officers were treated for minor injuries on-site, with one suffering facial cuts and the other bruising to the body.
The NYPD is actively searching for at least two more individuals connected to the attack, which NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell denounced as “reprehensible,” condemning the attackers’ cowardice. This incident has reignited debates over public safety and the challenges faced by law enforcement in New York City.