Holly MatkinManhattan, NY – A rioter tried to strangle a New York police officer with a heavy metal chain during a clash between police and trans rights marchers on Thursday night.
The attack occurred after hundreds of trans rights activists began marching from the Stonewall Inn in the West Village towards Union Square, the West Village Patch reported.
As the group reached the area of Broadway and Bond Street, one of the New York Police Department (NYPD) officers tasked with protecting the area was shoved to the ground, the department tweeted.
A rioter then attacked the officer with a length of heavy metal chain and attempted to strangle him, the NYPD said.
The suspect, 30-year-old Levon Wheeler, was arrested on charges of attempted strangulation, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault.
“Violence – in any form – is unacceptable,” the NYPD said. “We will be reviewing this incident, and bring any additional perpetrators to justice.”
Tonight, while performing their duties near Bond St & Broadway in Manhattan, an officer was pushed to the ground & had this chain pressed against his throat. The suspect was apprehended & will be charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon & attempted strangulation. pic.twitter.com/QuWAosMAAP
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 6, 2020
Tonight, officers were making a lawful arrest at E 12th St & 4th Ave in Manhattan when they recovered this knife from the individual.
Bringing weapons like these to peaceful protests is unacceptable. It will not be tolerated and will result in an arrest. pic.twitter.com/MrhTDwENYy
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 6, 2020
Wheeler, who also goes by an alias of Antonio Webber, was released from prison approximately one year ago after serving time for second-degree attempted robbery, the New York Post reported.
According to the paper, the NYPD said Wheeler lives at the state-operated Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Wards Island.
Police also arrested 18 other rioters – six women and 13 men – during Thursday night’s uprising, the New York Daily News reported.
Approximately 150 officers used bicycles to push the crowd back at various points throughout the night, video footage showed.
NYPD ran into the park to make some arrests, unclear what the point of this was. Water bottles flew after they charged pic.twitter.com/S3NlH1DbEZ
— Christopher Robbins (@ChristRobbins) November 6, 2020
Eight suspects were issued summonses, while the remaining 10 were given desk appearance tickets.
Wheeler was the only rioter taken to court, the New York Daily News reported.
