26 Arrested Outside MSG During Knicks Finals Watch Party
Multiple people were arrested outside Madison Square Garden during the Knicks’ Game 2 NBA Finals watch party Friday, the New York Police Department said.
Police said Saturday that some of the rowdiest fans among the roughly 6,500 people in attendance climbed light poles, food carts, and subway entrances after the Knicks took a 2-0 series lead over the Spurs in San Antonio.
The crowd also blocked traffic on Seventh and Eighth Avenues between 31st and 35th Streets, and multiple people refused police orders, the NYPD said.
One woman, 29-year-old Karely Reyes of Queens, was charged with assault, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration. According to the Police Benevolent Association, Reyes jumped a barricade into a restricted area and, when an officer tried to remove her, punched the officer in the face and later bit a second officer who intervened.
The officer who was punched suffered injuries requiring stitches and is recovering, the PBA said.
Reyes was arraigned Saturday, granted pretrial release, and is due back in court in July.
“These police officers and all the police officers were out last night outside Madison Square Garden protecting the people of this city,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said. “People showing up, causing chaos, assaulting police officers, committing crimes, it’s sending a bad message to everyone, and it will not be tolerated.”
Others were arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit merchandise, including one person who had a loaded firearm, the NYPD said.
In total, 26 people were taken into custody. Seventeen were arrested and charged, while nine received court summonses for disorderly conduct and were released.
