Seven individuals have been indicted by a grand jury in connection with a violent attack on two police officers in New York's Times Square last month. The announcement was made by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during a press conference on Thursday. Five of the defendants, whose names have been disclosed, are facing felony charges, with four of them being charged with second-degree assault. However, the names of the remaining two defendants, who have not yet been apprehended, have not been released.

Expressing his strong condemnation of the assault, Bragg stated, "This assault sickened me and outraged me. As a lifelong New Yorker, I do not tolerate attacks on police officers, and certainly I do not as Manhattan district attorney." The incident unfolded on the night of January 27 when law enforcement officers were attempting to disperse a crowd, and a brawl erupted. The assaulted officers suffered minor injuries during the altercation, according to the police.

The five suspects who were previously arrested and have now been indicted are identified as Yorman Reveron, 24; Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19; Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19; Wilson Juarez, 21; and Yohenry Brito, 24. Bragg commended the meticulous investigation carried out by prosecutors and law enforcement, shedding light on the alleged crimes committed by each defendant. Gomez-Izquiel is accused of grabbing one officer and kicking another, while Reveron allegedly pulled two officers to the ground. Both individuals are facing charges of second-degree assault and obstructing governmental administration.

However, Bragg clarified that Juarez and Servita Arocha did not directly assault the police officers. Juarez allegedly provided a suspect with a jacket and then wore a jacket himself, discarding it later in an attempt to avoid arrest. He is now facing charges of tampering with physical evidence and third-degree hindering prosecution. Servita Arocha, on the other hand, stands accused of kicking a police radio, leading to charges of second-degree assault and obstructing governmental administration.

Brito, who was reportedly at the center of the chaotic scene and refused to comply with police orders to vacate the area, has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault, obstructing governmental administration, tampering with physical evidence, and third-degree hindering prosecution. He has been held in custody since February. Reveron, Gomez-Izquiel, Servita Arocha, and Juarez were released on their own recognizance following their arraignments.

The decision to release the suspects has drawn criticism, including from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who voiced her disapproval on January 31. The indictment comes as a significant step forward in seeking justice for the attacked officers and sends a strong message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated. The case will now proceed to trial, where the defendants will face the charges brought against them.