Four migrants recently apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Arizona are suspected of involvement in the recent assault of two police officers near New York’s Times Square.
The suspects, identified as Darwin Andres Gomez, 19, Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, Wilson Juarez, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24, were accused of attacking and injuring two police officers last week. They had previously been arrested in New York but were released without bail.
According to reports, the suspects used fake names to board a bus headed to California after their release. They were subsequently apprehended on immigration warrants by ICE agents at a Greyhound bus station in Phoenix.
John Miller, the NYPD’s former deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism, highlighted the challenges in apprehending suspects released without bail, stating, “Police have nothing to arrest them on, on the assumption — which they have to operate on — that they’ll be back for their court date.” He emphasized the difficulty in ensuring compliance, particularly when suspects utilize false identities and head to areas with porous borders.
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, expressed concern over the release of the suspects without bail, stating, “Our criminal system is upside down.” He questioned the message sent to New York City police officers who risk their lives daily to protect the community, emphasizing the need for adequate protection for law enforcement personnel.
The case underscores broader concerns about the effectiveness of bail policies and the challenges law enforcement faces in ensuring accountability for individuals accused of violent crimes. It also raises questions about the implications of releasing suspects without bail and the potential risks posed to public safety.