Pressure increased on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg after he released, without bond, all but one of the 13 young migrants accused of attacking two New York City police officers last week. Bragg explained on Friday that he lacked sufficient evidence at the time to detain them.
Video footage of the assault disturbed Bragg, but he emphasized the importance of ensuring the right individuals are charged with the correct crimes, stating, “Our profound obligation is to make sure we have the right people charged with the right crimes. I don’t think New Yorkers want to charge the wrong person.”
Following the revelation that only one of the accused remained in custody on Rikers Island while the others were released without bond, controversy surrounded the case. Four of the arrested individuals, charged with felonies, reportedly obtained bus tickets for Calexico, Calif., from a local New York charity and have left the state.
Manhattan District Attorney Releases Migrants Accused of Assaulting Cops Citing Insufficient Evidence (Credits: CNN)
Bragg did not request bail, and they were released on their own recognizance, making it challenging for law enforcement to pursue or stop them unless they appear for a pending court date later in February.
Bragg, investigating the possibility of the four fleeing, maintained that there is no evidence yet but is continuing the assault investigation to ensure accurate charges.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for the deportation of all 13 suspects, while State Attorney General Letitia James criticized the lack of bail and deemed the assault a “serious felony.” Gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin called for Bragg’s termination, accusing him of refusing to enforce the law.
The assaulted officers are in recovery, according to WCBS-TV. The violence is attributed to a growing desperation among migrants due to a lack of food, shelter, and jobs, as sources informed the New York Daily News.
