A Venezuelan migrant, Ulises Bohorquez, was at the center of a Times Square brawl with police last year that culminated in his guilty plea and a one-year prison sentence. The incident unfolded on Jan. 27, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan, near the Candler Building at 220 West 42nd St. Bohorquez, 22, sat somberly in a Supreme Criminal courtroom in Lower Manhattan on Feb. 3 as the sentence was handed down, marking the conclusion of a tumultuous legal battle.
The brawl captured on surveillance video showcased a group of new arrivals acting disorderly and obstructing pedestrian traffic, prompting law enforcement intervention. When officers attempted to disperse the group, chaos ensued, leading to physical altercations between the migrants and the police. The situation quickly escalated as additional individuals joined the fray, assaulting the officers with kicks and punches. The altercation left the police officers with minor injuries, prompting swift condemnation from top police officials.
Former NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, now the Chief of Department, expressed outrage at the incident, emphasizing the need for accountability. “You have eight people attacking a lieutenant and a cop,” Chell remarked, highlighting the severity of the assault. The violent confrontation triggered a widespread manhunt to apprehend those involved, with several suspects located in city shelters.
Bohorquez, the eighth individual arrested in connection to the attack, initially pleaded not guilty, attributing his actions to the influence of cocaine and marijuana. He claimed to have intervened to protect another person from police aggression. However, during the court proceedings on Monday, Bohorquez reversed his plea, admitting guilt for his role in the assault. As a result, he was sentenced to a year in state prison, a decision that was met with approval from the police union.
PBA President Patrick Hendry commended the verdict, underscoring the significance of holding individuals accountable for assaulting law enforcement officers. “This sentence is just one more step towards justice in this case, and it sends exactly the message we need: if you attack a New York City police officer, you’ll do real time,” Hendry affirmed. The legal repercussions extended beyond Bohorquez, as Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, another migrant involved in the brawl, faced arrest by the Enforcement and Removal Operations New York for his role in the assault.
The resolution of the Times Square brawl case underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the integrity of law enforcement officials. Through a combination of legal proceedings and public scrutiny, justice was served, setting a precedent for accountability and responsibility in similar situations. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and judicial institutions culminated in a decisive outcome, emphasizing the gravity of assaulting police officers and the repercussions that follow.
