Manhattan prosecutors declined to pursue an assault charge against Gusmane Coulibaly on Thursday night, instead charging him with misdemeanor obstructing government administration and a harassment violation in connection with the viral Washington Square Park snowball fight.
Coulibaly, 27, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday evening and released on supervised release, hours after the NYPD announced his arrest in the case stemming from a massive snowball fight after Monday’s blizzard. About a dozen uniformed officers sat in the courtroom along with union leadership, including Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry.
Speaking to reporters after the arraignment, Hendry questioned why prosecutors did not pursue an assault charge.
“This was a blatant attack on the uniform that they wear so proudly every day,” he said.
Coulibaly was represented by defense attorney George Vomvolakis, who pushed back on that characterization.
“It didn’t look like an attack to me,” he said, referring to video of the incident.
In court, Vomvolakis argued the case amounted to, at most, a summonsable offense and asked the judge to release his client without bail. Coulibaly was ultimately released on supervised release.
Police had initially said Coulibaly was arrested for allegedly assaulting officers who were struck with snow and ice during the gathering. But prosecutors did not include an assault count in the charging documents.
The snowball fight, promoted on social media, drew a large crowd and a heavy police response. Two officers were treated for minor injuries, including a bruised eye and headache, police said earlier this week.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office did not immediately comment on the charging decision.
This is a developing story and may be updated.