Councilman Arrested During Eviction Protest

On Wednesday, a political supporter of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani faced arrest while allegedly trying to obstruct a voter eviction. Democratic City Councilman Chi Oseh was among those present at the eviction scene in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, according to reports.

Oseh and local activists contended that the individual being evicted, Carmela Charrington, was a victim of “deed theft,” which they claimed disproportionately affects Black property owners. “City Councilor Chi Oseh was arrested while defending his constituent, Carmela Charrington, from eviction,” he stated on his social media platform, asserting the act was related to ongoing issues of deed theft and evictions targeting the Black community in Bed-Stuy.

A video circulated on Instagram captured an incident where an NYPD officer physically restrained Oseh. In the footage, he was seen being slammed to the ground, leading to chants from protesters questioning police motives: “Who do you serve? Who do you protect?” Interestingly, Oseh’s own account of the event did not include the moment where he pushed past the police.

“Deed theft,” or “title fraud,” occurs when property deeds are transferred illegally, often involving forged documents, as explained by the National Association of Realtors. This practice raises significant concerns in affected communities.

After the arrest, Oseh, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a primary challenger to Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, mentioned he was headed to the hospital for an evaluation following the altercation. He emphasized he was not in custody but noted that two individuals remained detained at the station.

The New York Attorney General’s office conducted a review and reported that Charrington was not, in fact, a victim of “deed theft.” The property’s sale to the 227 Group in 2024 was legal, as confirmed by Charrington’s father’s guardian.