Teenager accused in Times Square attack on NYPD officers appears in Queens court on shoplifting charges
NEW YORK -- One of the suspects accused in last month's attack on police officers in Times Square was back in court Thursday for a different case.
The 19-year-old is also accused in a shoplifting incident in Queens.
Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel appeared before a judge during the overnight hours, this time in Criminal Court, accused of being the lookout for a group of shoplifters at the Macy's in the Queens Center Mall on Tuesday.
Police said members of the group punched an employee before stealing more than $600 worth of clothing. The alleged crime happened just weeks after Gomez-Izquiel was accused of grabbing and kicking officers in Times Square. He was then released without bail after a court appearance.
"The law needs to change. Those who assault New York City police officers need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," PBA President Patrick Hendry said Wednesday.
According to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, a judge set bail at $1 for the petty larceny charges. Gomez-Izquiel was remanded, however, as a result of the Times Square assault case.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has argued the current bail laws would have allowed for Gomez-Izquiel to be held on Rikers Island after his first arrest if Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had requested it, which he did not.
"I said all along that bail should have been requested, given the severity of what they did," Hochul said.
Watch Christina Fan's report
Gomez-Izquiel is one of seven migrants indicted in connection with the Times Square assault. Law enforcement sources told CBS New York that his co-defendants, 19-year-old Kelvin Servita Arocha, who is seen on video wearing a blue jacket, and 21-year-old Wilson Juarez, wearing a grey jacket, were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, after they were also released without bail.
ICE says they are "unlawfully present Venezuelan citizens" that "have been identified as members of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal organization." Arocha had a removal warrant, and Juarez allegedly had a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge last year.
"They have no regard for the law. They had no regard for police officers. They are just trying to stay out in the streets in the city of New York and commit crimes," Hendry said.
In addition, freed from custody now is Yohenry Brito, seen on the footage wearing a yellow coat, who is accused of instigating the whole fight. He made his $15,000 bail after spending a week on Rikers.
Meanwhile, Thursday afternoon, a judge set bail at $100,000 for 21-year-old Ulises Bohorquez. He's accused of kicking one officer's foot and grabbing the leg of another.
Cops initially caught him, but the Manhattan DA said he evaded prosecution by changing sweatshirts and lying about his identity. That is part of the reason the judge says she ordered him held on $100,000 cash bail.
"Today, our justice system did its job. A hundred thousand dollars is significant. This should have been from the beginning, from the first four who were released on their own recognizance," Hendry said.
Bohorquez's attorney declined to speak with CBS New York on camera. He entered a plea of not guilty to charges including second-degree assault.
"We've always made it very clear that the small number of people who are repeat offenders should be addressed accordingly," Mayor Eric Adams said.
The Manhattan DA said five suspects involved in the Times Square assault are currently in custody. Most of the people charged are expected to appear in court Friday.