Arrests made in NYC water-dousing incidents with cops
NEW YORK CITY - The NYPD announced Wednesday that it had arrested a suspect wanted for dumping a bucket of water on a police officer in Brooklyn.
Courtney Thompson, 28, is a known gang member, according to Chief of Dept. Terrence Monahan.
"UPDATE: The 28-year-old man, a known gang member, who was wanted for dumping a bucket of water on our @NYPD73Pct cop in #Brooklyn has been arrested. Actions like we’ve seen in videos recently will NEVER be tolerated in this city. YOU WILL BE ARRESTED," wrote Monahan on Twitter.
A second arrest was also reportedly made in a similar but separate incident in Harlem, sources told FOX News.
Videos of both incidents went viral.
One of them shows water splashing on the officers and then an empty bucket hitting a cop in the head while his partner is handcuffing a suspect.
That incident happened at 7th Avenue and West 115th Street in Harlem at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 21.
The officer who was hit in the head suffered pain and swelling, the NYPD said.
Photos of all of the suspects were released Tuesday.
"These are the individuals who are WANTED for assaulting our officers in #Harlem
while they were making an arrest," Chief of Department Terence Monahan tweeted. "Every New Yorker should be disgusted by the suspects' illegal behavior."
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The department is asking for anyone who recognizes the men to contact the Crime Stoppers at 800-577-8477, or www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
The PBA blamed the incident on City Hall and called for stronger laws.
"We are approaching the point of no return. Disorder controls the streets, and our elected leaders refuse to allow us to take them back," PBA president Patrick Lynch said in a statement released Monday. "As police officers, we need to draw a line. In situations like this, we need to take action to protect ourselves and the public."
On Tuesday, the PBA followed up with another statement.
"Since these outrageous videos surfaced, a chorus of lawmakers has condemned the behavior as 'unacceptable' and 'disrespectful,'" Lynch said in a statement on Tuesday. "We have been down this road before—words of support are meaningless if they're not backed up by concrete action to address the lawlessness on our streets."