The NYPD and Manhattan district attorney are investigating an incident in Times Square where members of the Guardian Angels, led by Curtis Sliwa, wrongly accosted a man misidentified as a migrant during a live Fox News interview. The man, a Bronx resident, was falsely accused of shoplifting and subjected to physical force. The incident has raised concerns about vigilantism against immigrants in New York, prompting pressure on officials from both sides of the immigration debate.
Members of the Guardian Angels Community Safety Patrol in New York City mistakenly accosted a man they thought was a migrant shoplifter in Times Square during a live interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. The group's founder, Curtis Sliwa, later admitted the man was not a migrant and had not been charged with shoplifting, acknowledging his mistake in repeating unverified information. The incident has sparked criticism of vigilante activity and divisive rhetoric, with some officials and analysts condemning the group's actions and linking them to right-wing media influence.
Curtis Sliwa, leader of the Guardian Angels, faced widespread criticism after wrongly identifying a Bronx man as a Venezuelan migrant during an altercation in Times Square. Elected officials and New Yorkers condemned Sliwa's actions, with some labeling it as racism and fear-mongering. Mayor Adams emphasized the need for justice and cautioned against making assumptions based on ethnicity, while others called for a thorough investigation. Sliwa acknowledged his mistake but remained defiant, stating that the controversy wouldn't deter the Guardian Angels from their mission.
Surveillance footage contradicts Guardian Angels leader Curtis Sliwa's account of a man being a "migrant" and a "shoplifter," showing that the man was simply trying to maneuver through the crowd when confronted by the vigilantes. Sliwa initially made false claims during a live Fox News interview, but later admitted his mistake. The incident has sparked controversy and tensions in New York City, with officials struggling to handle an ongoing rise in migrant arrivals and heated debate over shelter and benefits policies.
The man tackled by Guardian Angels in a viral Fox News clip was not a migrant as claimed by the group's founder, Curtis Sliwa, but a New York City resident. The NYPD stated that there was no evidence of shoplifting, and the man was detained for disrupting a live TV interview. Sliwa, who lost the 2021 mayoral election, criticized the city's migrant program and has a history of controversial actions. Police did not confirm if the group is under investigation following the altercation.
A Fox News segment featuring Curtis Sliwa's Guardian Angels detaining a man in Times Square took a surprising turn when it was revealed that the individual was not a migrant, as claimed, but a Bronx resident. The New York Police Department stated that the man was given a summons for disorderly conduct, with no evidence provided to confirm shoplifting allegations. Sliwa had assumed the man was a migrant because he was "speaking Spanish," but the NYPD reported that he was acting disorderly, causing public alarm.
During a live interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa claimed that his group had tackled a man misidentified as a migrant in Times Square, as part of their efforts to combat crime and chaos they attributed to an influx of migrants into New York City.
Curtis Sliwa's vigilante group, the Guardian Angels, mistakenly tackled a man they falsely accused of shoplifting during a live Fox News interview, leading to an embarrassing incident for the group led by the former Republican mayoral candidate.
Members of the Guardian Angels roughed up a man in Times Square during a live TV interview, misidentifying him as a "migrant" and claiming he was caught shoplifting, though police later revealed he was a New Yorker from the Bronx and issued a disorderly conduct summons for disrupting the interview. The incident sparked criticism and raised concerns about vigilantism, with some pointing out previous controversies involving the Guardian Angels.
Guardian Angels restrained a man they claimed was a migrant shoplifter during a live TV interview, but later admitted they had no proof of the claim. Police stated the man was allegedly trying to disrupt the broadcast and issued him a summons for disorderly conduct. The group's founder, Curtis Sliwa, initially stated the man was a migrant who had been shoplifting, but provided no evidence for the claim. The New York City Police Department did not comment on the migrant status or shoplifting allegations, and did not address whether the Guardian Angels had the authority to restrain the man.
Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa criticized New York City Mayor Eric Adams for prioritizing migrant families over city residents during a live interview on Fox News' "Hannity" in Times Square. As Sliwa spoke, members of the Guardian Angels subdued a suspect nearby. Sliwa accused the mayor of neglecting his constituents and allowing illegal aliens to receive benefits that surpass those of veterans and homeless individuals. The incident occurred amid controversy over a pilot program to distribute prepaid credit cards to migrant families in NYC hotels, which Adams defended as a means to provide food assistance and reduce costs.
The Guardian Angels, led by founder Curtis Sliwa, tackled a man they claimed to be a migrant shoplifter during a live TV interview in Times Square, but the NYPD stated that the man was just a pest trying to disrupt filming. Sliwa and his group have been vocal about their efforts to combat migrant crime in the city, with Sliwa criticizing Mayor Eric Adams for his policies. This incident adds to the controversial history of the Guardian Angels, including Sliwa's previous arrest and admission to faking crimes for publicity.
