Suspect Arrested for Alleged Snowball Assault on NYPD Officers in Manhattan Park
A 27-year-old man has been taken into custody for allegedly hurling icy snowballs at New York City police officers during a confrontation in Washington Square Park, an incident that resulted in two officers being hospitalized with injuries. Gusmane Coulibaly was arrested on Thursday morning following the Monday afternoon altercation in Manhattan, which occurred after a historic blizzard swept across the East Coast.
Mayor's Controversial Response Sparks Outrage
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced mounting criticism for his response to the incident, initially describing the perpetrators as "kids" engaged in a snowball fight. When contacted by the Daily Mail about Coulibaly's arrest, the mayor doubled down on his position through spokesperson Dora Pekec, stating that he "does not believe this situation rises to the level of criminal charges."
"As the mayor has said, police officers deserve to be treated with respect," Pekec explained. "The videos he saw showed a snowball fight that got out of hand."
Violent Details Emerge from Park Confrontation
Footage circulating online shows a crowd aggressively pelting officers with snow and ice as police attempted to navigate snow-covered walkways in the park. Witnesses reported agitators shouting profanities including "f*** you, b***h" while targeting law enforcement personnel. The NYPD confirmed that two officers sustained injuries to their face, head and neck requiring emergency room treatment, though both are now reported to be in stable condition.
This marks Coulibaly's second encounter with law enforcement in recent weeks, as he was previously arrested less than three weeks ago for an attempted robbery within the transit system according to police records.
Police Union Condemns Mayor's Leadership
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry delivered a scathing critique of Mayor Mamdani's handling of the situation, calling it "a complete failure of leadership" in comments to Fox 5 News. "This was not just a 'snowball fight.' This was an assault - by adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks - that landed two police officers in the hospital with head and face injuries," Hendry stated.
The union leader warned that the mayor's dismissive attitude could send dangerous signals to potential offenders considering targeting police officers in the future. "By ignoring their injuries and dismissing the incident, the mayor has sent a disgraceful message to every police officer who serves this city," Hendry added.
Official Investigations and Condemnations
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch characterized the behavior depicted in the videos as "disgraceful" and "criminal," confirming that detectives have launched a formal investigation into the matter. The department initially released images of potential suspects but has not announced additional arrests beyond Coulibaly's apprehension.
During a Tuesday press conference with the Office of Emergency Management, Mayor Mamdani defended his response while acknowledging the essential work of city employees during the historic winter storm. "I can just tell you from the video I saw, it looked like kids at a snowball fight," the mayor reiterated, while praising workers for "keeping New Yorkers safe" and ensuring critical services continued functioning.
The Police Benevolent Association issued a statement declaring the situation "unacceptable and outrageous," emphasizing that "all of our city leaders must speak up to condemn this despicable attack" on law enforcement personnel.
