Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
One Santa Arrested & One Santa Hospitalized After SantaCon Brawl
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 13, 2015
Modified Apr 4, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 13, 2015
Modified Apr 4, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
One person was hospitalized and one person was arrested after a messy brawl during SantaCon yesterday left a man with a contusion to the head.
Police say the incident happened around 9 p.m. at 29th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Cops were unclear about what sparked the fight (though the spokesperson noted it may have had something to do with "the victim's cousin arguing with someone"), but things escalated when suspect Thomas Aiello allegedly picked the 23-year-old victim off the sidewalk, then threw a garbage can at him. After that, Aiello allegedly grabbed the victim by the shirt and punched him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground, hit his head, and lose consciousness.
The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital with a contusion to the back of the head. Aiello, 25, has been charged with assault.
Tagged
arrest
fight
police
santacon
santacon 2015
original
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Why NY judges oppose bill to make safety top priority in child custody battles
Judges say a bill would have unintended consequences and make their workloads untenable.
By
Jimmy Vielkind
Published Sep 5, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. ET
Federal court dismisses Trump DOJ’s lawsuit over ICE activity in NJ
The ruling comes after federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit in response to Gov. Mikie Sherill’s executive order banning immigration agents from operating in nonpublic state property.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Federal court dismisses Trump DOJ’s lawsuit over ICE activity in NJ
The ruling comes after federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit in response to Gov. Mikie Sherill’s executive order banning immigration agents from operating in nonpublic state property.
By
Giulia Heyward
Did violence in Times Square and on the Brooklyn Bridge change how people feel about NYC?
By
Willow Higgins
and
Brittany Kriegstein
Mount Sinai reaches deal with Trump DOJ to end gender-affirming care for minors
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Caroline Lewis
NYPD ramps up security for West Indian Day parade as past shootings remain unsolved
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .