Washington Square Park attack: NYPD arrests man after Mamdani downplays incident as ‘snowball fight’

A 27-year-old man was arrested for participating in a chaotic snowball fight in Manhattan’s Washington Square Park that injured a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer. However, Mayor Zohran Mamdani downplayed the incident, calling it a “snowball fight”. Police said Guzman Coulibaly was detained Thursday morning after officers were repeatedly hit by ice and snow after responding to reports of disorderly gatherings on Monday. Several officers suffered head, neck and facial injuries that required medical attention, authorities said.The arrests came days after video circulated online showing a large group of people throwing snowballs during a winter storm, some of whom appeared to target responding police officers.Police officials described the behavior as criminal and confirmed detectives have been working to identify the suspect using footage from the scene. Police Chief Jessica Tish said the behavior captured in the viral video crossed a line. “This was not harmless fun. Officers were hit multiple times by snow and ice, which could have caused serious injuries,” she said, adding that the investigation was ongoing.Coulibaly’s arrest also raised eyebrows because court records show he was arrested earlier this month on charges of attempting to rob the city’s transit system. He is scheduled to appear in Bronx Criminal Court on March 16 for the case.

Mayor Mamdani called it a “snowball fight”

Mayor Zoran Mamdani said in response to the incident that while residents were urged to respect the police, the incident did not constitute criminal charges.“I have seen videos of children throwing snowballs at NYPD officers,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Police officers, like all city workers, battled through a historic snowstorm to keep New Yorkers safe. Respect them. If anyone caught the snowball, it was me.”He later reiterated that the footage he reviewed appeared to show “an out-of-control snowball fight” rather than a serious assault warranting prosecution. However, his comments drew sharp criticism from police unions, who argued officers were being deliberately targeted. The Police Benevolent Association described the incident as an assault, saying compacted ice and snow could have caused serious injuries.Police officials also released photos of other people wanted in connection with the incident, suggesting more arrests may follow.The incident sparked a broader debate in New York about the public behavior of law enforcement and how to distinguish spontaneous group behavior from criminal behavior.