The New York Police Department released a statement after a viral video showed plainclothes officers putting a protester into an unmarked van.
The video was shared by Michelle Lhooq, a self-described “counterculture journalist covering protests and autonomous zones,” and had racked up over 11 million views at the time of publication. (RELATED: Kayleigh McEnany: Lori Lightfoot And Bill De Blasio Have ‘Lost Control’ Of Their Cities)
Claiming that New York City was “taking after Portland” — where “anonymous” federal law enforcement officers had been accused of pulling protesters off the streets without warrants and taking them away in unmarked cars — Lhooq tweeted, “A trans femme protestor was pulled into an unmarked van at the Abolition Park protest – this was at 2nd Ave and 25th Street.”
NYC is taking after Portland – a trans femme protestor was pulled into an unmarked van at the Abolition Park protest – this was at 2nd Ave and 25th Street pic.twitter.com/1PDhSYuK9h
— michelle lh࿊࿊q (@MichelleLhooq) July 28, 2020
The New York City Police Department said shortly after that the woman who was taken into custody “was wanted for damaging police cameras during 5 separate criminal incidents in & around City Hall Park.” According to the statement, the officers who made the arrest “were assaulted with rocks & bottles.” (RELATED: ‘They’re Gonna Get Shot’: Rudy Giuliani Blasts De Blasio’s Plan To ‘Take The Community Back’ Without Police)
In regard to a video on social media that took place at 2 Ave & 25 St, a woman taken into custody in an unmarked van was wanted for damaging police cameras during 5 separate criminal incidents in & around City Hall Park. The arresting officers were assaulted with rocks & bottles. pic.twitter.com/2jGD3DT3eV
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 29, 2020
Fox News gave an update on the situation Wednesday morning on “America’s Newsroom,” noting that the protester had been identified as 18-year-old Nikki Stone, and she had been detained on vandalism charges.
The NYPD said that the warrant squad routinely used unmarked vehicles in order to locate wanted suspects without being detected.
When officers from the Warrant Squad took the woman into custody in a gray NYPD minivan this evening, they were assaulted with rocks and bottles. The Warrant Squad uses unmarked vehicles to effectively locate wanted suspects.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 29, 2020
When she was placed into the Warrant Squad’s unmarked gray minivan, it was behind a cordon of NYPD bicycle cops in bright yellow and blue uniform shirts there to help effect the arrest.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 29, 2020