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One Santa Arrested & One Santa Hospitalized After SantaCon Brawl


By

Ben Yakas

Published Dec 13, 2015

Modified Apr 4, 2018


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By

Ben Yakas

Published Dec 13, 2015

Modified Apr 4, 2018


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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.

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Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

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