An immigrant who was initially accused of taking part in an assault on two New York City police officers and then brazenly giving reporters the middle finger after being released without bail has had his charges dropped, prosecutors said Friday. Announced.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office dismissed criminal charges against Joan Boada, 22, saying that after a “thorough and diligent investigation,” the suspect was “exonerated as a participant in this assault.” said.
“Our investigation confirms that the person described in this complaint wearing the black and white jacket and pink shoes is Marcelino Esty, not Joao Boada, and that he is responsible for this assault,” said a statement from Prosecutor Alvin Bragg. It turns out he committed the crime.”
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Immigrant Joan Boada ignored reporters as she left a New York City courtroom on January 31st. On Friday, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office dropped all charges against Boada in connection with the Jan. 27 attack on two New York City police officers by an immigrant in Times Square. (Stephen Hirsch/New York Post/File)
“Marcelino Esti was charged with participating. We are therefore moving to dismiss this charge against João Boada,” the statement continued.
Esty is awaiting arraignment, prosecutors said. The prosecutor’s office said the charges against him would be made public after a court appearance Saturday morning.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Police Benevolent Association for comment.
Boada was one of several immigrants arrested shortly after two NYPD officers were attacked in Times Square on January 27 near an immigrant shelter. Surveillance cameras and police body camera footage show the group kicking and punching officers on the ground as they were directed to move along the sidewalk near 42nd Street.
Mr. Boada infamously gave reporters and photographers the middle finger after his release from the Midtown South Precinct in Manhattan. All but one of the immigrant suspects were initially released without bail, sparking widespread anger and criticism of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Several suspects accused in the attack have since been rearrested and remain in custody.
NYPD Lt. Ben Kurian, one of the officers assaulted in the attack, is scheduled to attend President Biden’s State of the Union address in Washington on March 7.
Kurian, a 20-year military veteran and resident of Queens, was invited by Republican U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis.
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Mayor Eric Adams, left, and local Alvin Bragg listen during a press conference announcing several charges against immigrants involved in a scuffle with police in New York’s Times Square on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Prosecutor (right). ((AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews))
“NYPD officers work on the front lines every day to keep our streets safe, and unfortunately, they are now responsible for hundreds of violent crimes that are illegally committed in our country,” Malliotakis said in a statement. We are being forced to deal with this.” “The horrifying footage of Lieutenant Kurian and his fellow officers being attacked by a mob in Times Square was painful to watch, but it highlights just how difficult the jobs of our nation’s officers have become.”
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“We would like Lt. Gov. Kurian to accompany us to the State of the Union address, not only to show support for New York City’s brightest people, but also to draw attention to the need for the Biden administration to end dangerous border policies. “I am honored that millions of individuals enter our country illegally without being vetted,” she added.
