Another migrant believed to be involved in the now infamous beating of an NYPD cop and lieutenant last month was arrested on Tuesday, authorities said.
According to Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, 19-year-old Carlos Durante was cuffed by the warrant squad on Feb. 6. Video from the Jan. 27 incident on 42nd Street and 7th Avenue apparently puts Durante at the scene where a group of migrants could be seen punching and kicking cops as they tried to break up the disorderly gathering.
Still, Chief Kenny said Durante is not currently being charged in the assault on the officers.
“He’s not going to be charged in the incident that took place on 42nd Street,” Chief Kenny said. “We’re still working on that with the district attorney’s office.”
According to Kenny, Durante is allegedly caught on video joining the cluster of individuals who surrounded the cops while others went on the attack. However, because the obtained footage does not show him throwing any punches or kicks, he was not immediately charged in that case.
“It’s kind of a borderline thing in that he is part of the group, he is blocking the officers, but he’s not throwing a kick or punch,” Chief Kenny said. “We are still going to work with them. I’m sure there’s additional video out there, you’re only seeing one video that occurs in front of the shelter. There’s more video that continues down the street that we’re going to look at, we’re also looking at body worn cameras.”
Still, Durante was apparently wanted for a slew of other crimes including robbery and a shoplifting spree. Durante is accused of working with a group and entering stores in Queens, such as the Sunglasses Hut, and cleaning them out of the eyewear at the tune of $8,000 a hit. He was arrested for a Manhattan robbery, police say.
Durante marks the seventh arrest in relation to the Times Square police officer assault.
Status of other suspects
Meanwhile, reports that three previously arrested migrants fled to Arizona and were cuffed at a bus depot by ICE on Tuesday currently remains unsubstantiated, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
“The Manhattan D.A.’s Office was informed yesterday by HSI that the four individuals they took into custody were not affiliated with the New York City investigation. To date, we have not received any indication from federal authorities that they have detained anyone related to our case, Manhattan DA Communications Director Danielle Filson said.
On Saturday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said his office would present charges to a grand jury in connection with the Midtown cop assault. The grand jury indicted one suspect, Yohenry Brito, on Tuesday, though the specific charges will remain under seal until a scheduled March hearing.
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