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Protester Turns Himself In For Alleged Cop Assault, Reward Raised To $25K
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 19, 2014
Modified Dec 19, 2014
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Andrew S. Adler
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 19, 2014
Modified Dec 19, 2014
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One of the protesters who was allegedly part of a group that assaulted two police officers during the Millions March NYC on the Brooklyn Bridge last weekend has turned himself in. Rob Murray, 43, an organizer with Service Employees International Union, has been charged with two counts of assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, inciting riots and obstructing governmental administration in the incident, which you can see in part below.
Murray, a Crown Heights resident, was identified as "Male Number 3" on the list of seven suspects who police say interfered as two lieutenants attempted to arrest CUNY adjunct professor and poet Eric Linsker. Linsker, who was arrested last Sunday, allegedly tried to throw a trash can from the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path onto the roadway below, where NYPD officers were gathered. He ended up in a scuffle with the cops as they tried to take him into custody.
At a press conference this week, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said that seven suspects intervened and helped Linsker escape. During the ensuing melee, one protester allegedly broke Lieutenant Philip Chan's nose, and another kicked Lieutenant Patrick Sullivan, causing multiple cuts and bruises. Cops allege that Murray, in particular, was the one who punched Chan.
"He's pretty mild mannered, but politically, it doesn't surprise me. I know he's politically active. He's just a liberal guy with his politics," Charles, Murray's landlord, told DNAInfo.
Cops were less gentle in their assessment: "His acts of violence are right up there with being among the most aggressive acts," NYPD Deputy Chief William Aubry said at a press conference Thursday evening. "There’s a witness who said he hit him so hard that he heard the fist hitting his face." Cop sources tell the Post that two other female suspects have already identified, and they expect more arrests to happen in the next couple days.
Police are offering a $25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects in this case: Crime Stoppers has offered $15,000, and COP Shot has offered $10,000.
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brooklyn bridge
eric garner
Millions March
millions march nyc
protests
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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