BEDFORD STUYVESANT, Brooklyn (PIX11) — New York City Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested and charged by police on Wednesday morning during a protest against a Brooklyn woman’s eviction but what exactly led up to the incident?
The councilman, who represents Brooklyn’s 36th District, was arrested near 200 Jefferson Ave. in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where community members say they were rallying to prevent the eviction of Carmella Charrington.
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At least four people, including Ossé were arrested at the protest, all of whom were charged with obstruction of government administration and disorderly conduct and were issued a desk appearance ticket, the NYPD told PIX11 News.
Authorities say the New York City Sheriff and Marshals went to 200 Jefferson Ave. to carry out an eviction on Wednesday morning. Law enforcement officials were also directed to find Charrington’s father, who is under protection by the state of Georgia, but hadn’t been there for several years.
Upon encountering the protestors, the NYC Marshals called for backup from the NYPD, which later led to the arrests.
Timeline of Councilman Chi Ossé’s arrest
7:42 a.m. – NYC Marshals called for NYPD backup
7:55 a.m. – NYPD arrives on scene, and the Marshals tell the NYPD that they are unable to carry out this court order because the protesters are blocking them. When NYPD officers arrive on scene, they request to see the eviction notice and associated paperwork from the Marshals.
8:40 a.m. – 30 protesters are on scene and NYPD calls for additional officers because of the large crowd. There were multiple verbal commands given to protesters that they were blocking a law enforcement action and a court order, and that they would be arrested if they did not disperse.
9:27 a.m. – The first arrest is made, more than an hour and a half after NYPD first arrived on the scene. The NYPD made four arrests, all of whom were charged with obstruction of governmental administration and disorderly conduct.
Ossé was arrested after two protesters were arrested for blocking the gate in front of the building. When those two were arrested, Ossé was not in front of the gate, police say.
Once those two were arrested, Ossé pushes past officers who were attempting to block him from standing in front of the gate, and then he begins to block the gate entrance, according to authorities.
An NYPD officer verbally engages Ossé for a few seconds before attempting to arrest him, law enforcement officials report.
Ossé appeared to flail his arms and hands to prevent officers from restraining him, police say.
The officers have no room behind them (gate to house up against them and Ossé) to maneuver Ossé and end up taking him down for arrest, as is within guidelines for making an arrest for someone committing obstruction of governmental administration, authorities report.
Video posted to the councilmember’s social media page showed the moment he was taken to the ground by officers during the arrest. City Council Speaker Julie Menin says Ossé sustained injuries from the incident, while the councilmember reported that two other people arrested with him were also injured.
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The ‘deed theft’ case
Charrington has been in a two-year fight against brownstone developer 227 Group LLC to maintain the home’s deed. Her family says Charrington holds the power of attorney for her father’s estate and that he granted her the property.
The family has continued to own the home for 60 years, but a little over a year and a half ago, the developer tried to change the locks to the door, the family told PIX11.
The father’s name is also on a deed for a property in Atlanta where he’s lived for the last few decades, according to the family. A legal back-and-forth between Georgia and New York authorities has resulted in the most recent challenges, including having Charrington in jail on Rikers Island for six days.
Police say Charrington had a court appearance on March 31, during which the judge asked for the location of her father who was under the legal protection of the state of Georgia. She had until April 16 to bring her father to court, but when she appeared at the follow-up hearing without him, she was arrested for civil contempt and taken to Rikers, authorities reported.
Despite Wednesday’s eviction notice, the Charrington family remained in the Brooklyn home.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.
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