NEW YORK (PIX11) – Several migrants who were arrested after an attack on two NYPD officers in Times Square were seen getting on a bus to California after they were released from custody without bail, sources told NewsNation affiliate WPIX on Friday.
NYPD officials have vowed to continue their search for anyone who was involved in the beating.
Meanwhile, city officials say migrants are still welcome, as New York City is a sanctuary city, but not if they’re breaking the law.
The mayor’s office was asked if it tracks the number of crimes committed by migrants entering New York. The mayor’s chief of staff, Camille Joseph Varlack, said that’s an issue for the NYPD.
“If the federal authorities are able to get a warrant for the arrest of these individuals, we are allowed to work with them and participate with that,” she said.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said the suspects were released without bail because prosecutors have to look at a lot of individuals and surveillance video to build a case before they can file charges in court.
The officers were trying to clear a group of people standing in front of the Chandler Building on West 42nd Street around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday when the two cops tried to detain a man, officials have said. During the attempted arrest, a group of people swarmed the officers, repeatedly punching and kicking them, video of the attack shows.
The officers were treated on the scene for minor injuries, officials said.
The group fled the scene, heading east on West 42nd Street.
Police arrested at least seven people but said more suspects were still at large.